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Malaysian Prime Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Stopping War in Gaza is an Immediate Demand

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat (Photo by: Abdul Aziz Al-Zoman)
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat (Photo by: Abdul Aziz Al-Zoman)
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Malaysian Prime Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Stopping War in Gaza is an Immediate Demand

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat (Photo by: Abdul Aziz Al-Zoman)
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat (Photo by: Abdul Aziz Al-Zoman)

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim underlined the importance of the Arab and Islamic role led by Saudi Arabia to stop the ongoing war between the Israeli army and Palestinian factions.

Ibrahim called for mobilizing Islamic, Arab, regional and international efforts to facilitate the passage of humanitarian aid to Gaza. He pointed to his country’s firm position on the Palestinian issue and denounced Western duplicity by supporting the Israelis and disregarding the violations of civilians’ rights in the enclave.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on the sidelines of the ASEAN-GCC summit, which convened in Riyadh on Friday, the Malaysian premier said: “We took a very strong position together, with our brothers, friends, allies, and neighbors. We believe that we must all work together to stop this madness of the continued killing practiced by Israel in Palestine, specifically in the Gaza Strip, and which affects the lives of innocent people in hospitals and public places. This heinous act must end,” the minister stated.

“The international community must do everything in its power to guarantee peace. And I mean peace for all (...) but Gaza is now under siege, and people are struggling to live, there is no water, no electricity, no food and no medicine. The situation is truly tragic,” he added.

Arab Islamic efforts led by Saudi Arabia

Ibrahim pointed to coordinated security and cooperation conferences regarding the Arab Peace Initiative led by Saudi Arabia, where he said the foreign ministers presented clear views on humanitarian aid and the implementation of a ceasefire, placing the responsibility for stopping the war on the international community.

According to Ibrahim, Western countries, especially the United States, are ignoring the importance of achieving peace in the region, indicating that instead they are provoking countries to intervene, and this is something - in his opinion - dangerous and “may contribute to expanding that battle to other countries.”

The outcome of the summit

The Malaysian prime minister placed high hopes on the results of the ASEAN-GCC summit to enhance economic cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

“We explored this new economic rebirth, and worked together to promote long-term business investments,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Prospects of partnership with Saudi Arabia

Asked about the Saudi-Malaysian relations, and the areas for future cooperation, Ibrahim emphasized the historic and traditional ties between his country and Saudi Arabia, noting that many Malaysian companies were currently participating in some major projects in Riyadh and NEOM and in different fields.

“The Kingdom, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has now moved up development investments in an amazing way. So Malaysia, as you know, needs to maintain this bilateral cooperation,” he said.

He also expressed his country’s willingness to sign new partnerships with the Kingdom in different fields, including green technology.

Malaysia and the upcoming reform

When asked about his country’s internal situation, the Malaysian Prime Minister said: “Our country is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. For this reason, our national philosophy promotes a civil concept that takes into account all of this, which means that we will push work economically to the top.”

He added: “We will work to attract investments, and we will focus on education, research and new technology, including artificial intelligence, which I think the Saudis have done relatively well, but we will also focus on the issue of ethics and values of humanity.”

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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UN Deputy Special Coordinator to Asharq Al-Awsat: Humanitarian Situation in Lebanon is ‘Catastrophic’

Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Imran Riza, the UN’s Deputy Special Coordinator, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon (Asharq Al-Awsat)

One of the UN’s top humanitarian officials in Lebanon, Imran Riza, has warned that the situation will worsen if the conflict continues, calling for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

He stressed that the ongoing war is placing immense strain on both the UN and the Lebanese government, as over a million people have been displaced. He said current needs exceed $400 million, but only 12% of that amount has been raised so far.

Worsening Crisis

Riza, who is the UN Deputy Special Coordinator for Lebanon, UN Resident, and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat. He described the past two weeks as “catastrophic” for civilians, with the crisis growing over the last year.

More than 600,000 people have been displaced and over a million affected, with 300,000 crossing the border, according to Riza.

Many of these people have been displaced more than once in search of safety. Riza emphasized that the war has severely impacted civilians, with more than a quarter of Lebanon's population affected.

The UN has been working to address the crisis, but Riza said resources are limited.

He stressed that the UN has been saying all year that it doesn’t have enough funds, even when there were only 110,000 displaced people.

Last week, the UN launched a $426 million appeal for urgent humanitarian aid, with 12% of the funding already secured.

Riza said more support is expected, with donor countries pledging additional help.

He also expressed gratitude for contributions from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which provided medical and relief supplies, and said the UN hopes to see more international assistance soon.

Working with the Government

The UN is working closely with the Lebanese government every day to provide shelter, food, healthcare, and water to those in need.

Cooperation with the government has been excellent, said Riza.

However, he acknowledged that the government’s capacity is weakened after five years of ongoing crises, which have also severely impacted the population.

People are less resilient than they were during the 2006 war, and the government and its institutions are weaker, affirmed Riza.

The UN is helping the government respond effectively, ensuring transparency and accountability, so that aid reaches those who need it, he added.

The UN is also collaborating with local and international NGOs that have gained experience from Lebanon’s recent crises, helping to ensure a more effective response. Shelters are also being monitored to prevent any abuse.

A Different Reality from 2006

The current situation in Lebanon is very different from the 2006 war. Politically, the country now has a caretaker government and no president, with much less international presence.

Back then, other countries were more involved, said Riza.

The 2006 war lasted only 33 days, but this conflict has dragged on for a year, he noted.

During recent visits to southern border areas, Riza said locals were asking when the war would end, as the situation has worsened significantly in the past two weeks.

Riza noted that, in the first week of the crisis, it was extremely difficult to respond, and even now, many displaced people remain without shelter.

The UN is working with the government to provide shelter, food, and healthcare, but it’s not easy, he noted.

Displacement Crisis

With winter approaching, Riza stressed the need to properly house displaced people, saying that people can’t be left without shelter.

There are also concerns over a lack of housing, clean water, and sanitation, as well as the risk of disease outbreaks. Despite these challenges, Riza praised the close cooperation between the UN, international organizations, and partners.

Many agencies are responding, he asserted.

Riza rejected any claims of discrimination between displaced groups, noting that both Lebanese and Syrians are currently staying in UNRWA schools. He added that talks with the government about sheltering displaced Syrians have been positive.

Riza also expressed concern about the school year and children’s education.

Prolonged Conflict

The United Nations sees no immediate solution to the humanitarian and military crisis in Lebanon, with Riza stressing that the solution must be political and diplomatic, but first, a ceasefire is needed.

While there is little optimism for an end to the conflict, Riza said, the UN is encouraged by the support from its partners, which helps the organization assist the displaced.

He mentioned the recent evacuation of 1,000 people from Ain Ebel and aid distribution in Tyre, emphasizing the need to ensure that they reach those in need.

Riza called on all sides to respect international and humanitarian laws, allowing safe access for aid workers.

He condemned violations, including the deaths of firefighters, health workers, civil defense staff, and UN personnel, adding that the toll on civilian and health infrastructure is growing.