As the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement takes effect, the Egyptian Red Crescent is working diligently to deliver vital aid and supplies to the Gaza Strip, providing much-needed relief to the region.
The ceasefire deal in Gaza came into effect on Jan 19, after more than 15 months of deadly strikes.
In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Amal Emam, CEO of the Egyptian Red Crescent, outlined the organization's aid plan to address the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including providing emergency food, shelter, and medical assistance to those affected.
She highlighted that every item is crucial, but particularly essential are basic necessities such as food, water, fuel, and winter supplies to support the displaced Palestinian population.
"It will be hard to say that there is a specific need now in Gaza, everything is needed. People have suffered and everything has been destroyed. However, we need to prioritize sometimes what to have first. The priority now is for food, also for water, for fuel, for winter items, and for the winterization items, here we are referring also to the shelter, to the blankets, covers and everything that's needed, because people now, they don't have their homes and they are just in unorganized shelters," Emam said.
Emam noted that the Egyptian Red Crescent has been preparing for the long-term to ensure a swift and effective response, regardless of the ceasefire's outcome.
"All the humanitarians, they are referring to the Gaza war as the biggest humanitarian crisis in the last 30 years. Our plan is again to start this coordination and cooperation with different stakeholders who are working on the reconstruction," she said.
Egyptian Red Crescent steps up aid deliveries in Gaza as ceasefire agreement takes effect
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday called on China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) to foster new engines for economic growth, and continuously expand common interests.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks when holding talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the ROK Cho Hyun in Beijing.
Noting that China always attaches importance to China-ROK relations, Wang said China stands ready to further enhance mutual trust with the ROK side to expand cooperation in emerging fields including artificial intelligence, biomedicine, green and low-carbon development and the silver economy on the basis of traditional cooperation.
Wang said next year will mark the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, adding that both sides should take this opportunity to jointly advance the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership in the right direction.
Noting that the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting is scheduled to be held in Shenzhen, and leaders of various economies including the ROK president have confirmed their attendance, Wang said China is ready to work with the ROK to advance the building of an Asia-Pacific community and promote common development and prosperity in the region.
Cho Hyun said that since the two heads of state exchanged visits, bilateral relations have recovered and grown. The substantial increase in trade volume and people-to-people exchanges fully demonstrates that the important consensus reached by the two leaders has been delivered, he added.
Cho Hyun said the ROK government's position of respecting the one-China policy will remain unchanged.
The ROK wishes the APEC "China Year" every success, he said, adding that the two heads of state will meet again in Shenzhen next week, which will push bilateral relations to new heights.
Chinese FM calls on China, ROK to expand common interests
