China will continue to support the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in advancing the agency's noble cause, as many regions around the world are facing serious humanitarian challenges, said a Chinese envoy on Monday.
Addressing a UN Security Council Briefing, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said that humanitarian crises are worsening in many regions around the world due to conflict.
He urged more countries to accept refugees and provide dignified living conditions, calling on the international community to boost humanitarian aid and financial support.
Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, underscored that at present, the international situation is complex and volatile, with high geopolitical tensions, persistent unilateral bullying, and shocks to the world economy.
Against this backdrop, the global refugee situation has become increasingly serious and challenging. According to a recent UNHCR report, nearly 130 million people have been forcefully displaced globally, and the relevant figure has been rising for 12 consecutive years, Geng noted.
"War and conflicts are among the most important reasons why people are forced to flee their homes. The Security Council should promote ceasefires and stop violence, start dialogue and negotiation, and seek political solutions. Relevant countries should stop creating confrontations and provoking conflicts in the international arena and abandon unilateralism and hegemonic and bullying behavior. All parties should support post-conflict countries in accelerating recovery and reconstruction, enhancing their capacity for independent development, and creating the conditions for refugees to return home as soon as possible," said Geng.
The deputy permanent representative stressed that some countries have drastically cut foreign aid recently, forcing humanitarian organizations to reduce their aid activities in a serious blow to refugee relief.
China calls on developed countries to shoulder their responsibilities by fulfilling their aid commitments and providing more support to refugee hosting countries and multilateral humanitarian organizations, said Geng.
China is ready to continue to work with the international community, firmly support multilateralism, and contribute to improving the global refugee protection system and resolving the refugee issue, said Geng.
China supports UN refugee agency in advancing humanitarian cause
China supports UN refugee agency in advancing humanitarian cause
The Palestinian people in the war-torn Gaza Strip looks forward to an improved situation in the enclave particularly with the resumption of food supplies and medicines, after a deal was made between Hamas and the United States on hostage release.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said in a press statement that it released Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander -- who has been captive in Gaza over the past 19 months -- from southern Gaza on Monday.
The deal came separate from the Israeli government, which was not involved in such a deal.
In a press statement, the Al-Qassam Brigades said the release of Alexander followed "contacts with the U.S. administration, as part of the efforts being made by mediators to achieve a ceasefire, open the crossings, and allow aid and relief to reach Gaza people in the Gaza Strip."
The people living in Gaza hold mixed views about the action.
"What's required from America is not just the release of the prisoner, Edan. What’s required is also an end to the war on Gaza, an end to support for Israel, and an end to the bombs. Every day, we die in Gaza from American bombs. We hope the support for Israel stops, and God willing, what's coming will be better than what we’ve lived through. May this war come to an end, for good," said Ibrahim Abu Ouda, a displaced person.
The agreement comes as Gaza faces dire shortages of food and medicine. Israel halted all aid deliveries on March 2 after a provisional ceasefire with Hamas expired, exacerbating conditions in the territory. Since resuming military operations on March 18, Israeli airstrikes have killed 2,749 Palestinians, and the total death toll is at least 52,862 people since October 2023, according to Gaza health authorities.
"I'm one of the people suffering here. Of course, I hope there's some glimmer of hope that this tragic situation we're living through will change. When I see my fellow people with food, water, and medicine, I feel happy. I rejoice in seeing them relieved. And we pray, God willing, that this is a good sign, and hopefully this time they'll be sincere and fix the situation," said Tulaat Hamdan, a displaced person.
"I'm pessimistic. There hasn't been a ceasefire in this two-year war that lasted more than a day. What is one day going to do for us, really? Then they're trading a prisoner just for food. No, I want to go home. I want to return to my land," said Izhaq Shabat, another displaced person.
Earlier on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said an Israeli delegation will travel to Qatar's Doha on Tuesday for talks on a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, although the talks will take place "only under fire."
Israel has already declared that it will continue its war until it achieves its objectives, on top of which is eliminating Hamas, which has recently negotiated with the American administration without Israeli involvement.
Alexander is a U.S.-born soldier serving in the Israeli army, who was abducted on Oct. 7, 2023, in a Hamas-led raid on southern Israel that resulted in the seizure of 251 people as hostages and the killing of about 1,200 others.
Gazans call for end of warfare following Israeli-American hostage release
