UN Palestinian Refugee Agency Calls for Unimpeded Flow of Aid to Gaza

Palestinians carry bags of flour received as aid to poor families, at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) distribution center, in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip (AFP)
Palestinians carry bags of flour received as aid to poor families, at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) distribution center, in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip (AFP)
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UN Palestinian Refugee Agency Calls for Unimpeded Flow of Aid to Gaza

Palestinians carry bags of flour received as aid to poor families, at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) distribution center, in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip (AFP)
Palestinians carry bags of flour received as aid to poor families, at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) distribution center, in the Rafah refugee camp in the southern Gaza Strip (AFP)

The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency on Tuesday called for an unimpeded flow of humanitarian assistance to Gaza, trapped in a humanitarian crisis after two weeks of intense Israeli attacks.

"We call for an unimpeded and continuous flow of humanitarian assistance and medical assistance to continue coming into Gaza," said Tamara Alrifai, spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

"The trucks that have come in so far are just a trickle in the face of the immense needs of people on the street."



Syria's Economy Will Be Open for Foreign Investment, Foreign Minister Says

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (X)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (X)
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Syria's Economy Will Be Open for Foreign Investment, Foreign Minister Says

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (X)
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani. (X)

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani said on Wednesday that the country will open its economy to foreign investment and that Damascus is also working on energy and electricity partnerships with Gulf states.
"Syria's economic resources are diverse and we have a lot of sectors - industry, tourism... of course the economy in the future will be open and will open the road for foreign investment," he said at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
Shibani paid separate visits to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in early January, during which he discussed bolstering ties.
At Davos, Shibani said a committee of representatives from various groups would work on the country's new constitution after holding a national dialogue, which Syria's leadership says will include all segments of society to chart a path for the nation after the opposition factions ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
"We need an inclusive transition leading to a new constitution, free and fair elections, in a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process that will restore Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity," UN Syria envoy Geir Pedersen said at a separate press conference in Damascus on Wednesday.
Both Pedersen and Shibani reiterated calls for ending the international sanctions imposed on Syria.