Pedersen Informed in Cairo of Arab Interest in Expanding Scope of Syria Settlement

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit meets with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. Asharq Al-Awsat
Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit meets with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Pedersen Informed in Cairo of Arab Interest in Expanding Scope of Syria Settlement

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit meets with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. Asharq Al-Awsat
Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit meets with UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. Asharq Al-Awsat

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has pointed out that outstanding issues in Syria could not be resolved by its Constitutional Committee, despite being a first step in confidence-building.

His comment highlighted the importance of expanding the scope of political solutions in Syria.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry stressed the need to take all the steps needed to resolve the Syrian crisis in line with a decisive and effective response against terrorist organizations.

The remarks of Aboul Gheit and the Egyptian FM were made during UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen’s three-day visit to Cairo on Wednesday.

Discussions have focused on advancing the peaceful settlement of the Syrian crisis.

According to Aboul Gheit, the Arab League attaches great importance to ending the stalemate in Syria after ten years of conflict.

Syrians, represented by both the government and the opposition, should be aware of the threat posed by the status quo, a senior official in the organization’s General Secretariat quoted Aboul Gheit as saying.

He pointed to the need to reach compromises and end the suffering of Syrians in Syria and abroad.

Abou Gheit called for creative means for a settlement to the Syrian war, which has been overwhelmed by political differences.

A foreign ministry statement stressed Egypt’s rejection to any forced demographic change in Syria.

Commenting on Pedersen’s visit, Professor of Political Science at the American University of Cairo Dr. Noha Bakr said it comes as part of the international community’s acknowledgment of Egypt’s vision on the crisis in Syria.

Bakr told Asharq Al-Awsat that Cairo has always been calling for a political solution in Syria.



Yemen Urges Aid Funds Transfer via Aden’s Central Bank

Beneficiaries of the World Food Program gather outside a food distribution center in Sanaa before the program’s activities were halted (Reuters)
Beneficiaries of the World Food Program gather outside a food distribution center in Sanaa before the program’s activities were halted (Reuters)
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Yemen Urges Aid Funds Transfer via Aden’s Central Bank

Beneficiaries of the World Food Program gather outside a food distribution center in Sanaa before the program’s activities were halted (Reuters)
Beneficiaries of the World Food Program gather outside a food distribution center in Sanaa before the program’s activities were halted (Reuters)

Food insecurity in Yemen has worsened in recent months, with half of all families not getting enough to eat, according to United Nations reports.
The Yemeni government is calling for a review of the aid approach and criticizing relief organizations, urging that aid funds be routed through the Central Bank in Aden.
Aid distribution is expected to resume in about four months due to disruptions in the humanitarian food supply chain.
Military conflicts and economic tensions between the Yemeni government and the Houthi insurgency are making the situation even more difficult for the Yemenis.
Jamal Belfaqih, head of Yemen’s Supreme Relief Committee, urges international aid funds to be channeled through Aden's Central Bank. This move is supported by international organizations and the US Federal Reserve.
Belfaqih stresses that financial transactions involving Sanaa must receive approval from this recognized banking authority.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Belfaqih emphasized the need for international organizations to relocate to liberated areas, adjust humanitarian efforts to meet actual needs, and rebuild trust.
He believes this approach will secure funding, government support, and foster genuine partnerships with the private sector, based on decentralized humanitarian practices.
Belfaqih, also an advisor to Yemen’s Minister of Local Administration, encourages using sea, air, and land routes, including Saudi Arabia’s Jazan port, as unified channels to prioritize and meet regional needs effectively.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) revealed that food insecurity in Yemen remained high through the end of May, reflecting varying levels across economic crisis zones. In regions under Yemeni government control, the rate of food insecurity rose by 54%, compared to 41% in Houthi-controlled areas.
According to a recent FAO report, food insecurity continued to worsen until last May, maintaining a similar level compared to the previous month but marking an 11% increase from the same period last year.