Defence and aid are two sides of the same coin
Maj Gen James Cowan is head of the international landmine clearance charity The Halo Trust
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The National
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- The National
US and Israel-backed group extends closure of Gaza aid sites
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) pushed back the reopening of its aid sites set for Thursday, without clarifying when they would resume service, as starvation looms in the war-ravaged enclave. The GHF closed its distribution centres on Wednesday after a string of deadly shooting incidents near its sites killed scores of Palestinians and drew sharp United Nations condemnation. The US and Israeli-backed aid group originally said it was closing aid distribution sites in Gaza on Wednesday for "renovation" and that they would reopen Thursday. But the group said late Wednesday that its facilities would not open at the regular time. "Our distribution sites will not open early tomorrow morning as in previous days due to ongoing maintenance and repair work," it wrote on social media. "We will share information about opening times as soon as work is complete." The Israeli army warned against travelling "on roads leading to the distribution centres, which are considered combat zones". The GHF said it was working to made aid distribution "as safe as possible" and urged those travelling to its sites to "follow the routes designated" by the Israeli army. The foundation began its operations last week after Israel eased a blockade on Gaza that had prevented aid from entering for more than two months, sparking warnings of mass famine. But the group's first week of work has been marred by violence and criticism. At least 27 Palestinians were killed waiting for aid at a distribution centre in the southern city of Rafah on Tuesday, according to Gaza authorities. On Sunday, 31 people were killed in a similar incident near a site run by the foundation. Three were killed on Monday. The GHF is a private group but is backed by the US and Israel. Its aid operations, which bypass traditional humanitarian groups, have been condemned by the UN and established charities, who say they place civilians at risk by forcing them to navigate militarised areas to reach the aid sites. The organisation has said it distributed more than seven million meals in its first week. Gazans are desperate for food after an 11-week Israeli aid blockade and are sleeping near aid collection points despite fears of deadly violence, The National has been told. Food shortages and ongoing violence have propelled fresh international calls for an end to the war but a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains elusive. The US, Israel's main ally, used its veto power at the UN Security Council on Wednesday to block a resolution calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza. Hamas condemned the veto as "disgraceful" and accused Washington of "legitimising genocide" in Gaza.
Zawya
5 days ago
- Zawya
United Arab Emirates (UAE) Strongly Condemns Attack on Humanitarian Convoy in North Darfur
The United Arab Emirates has strongly condemned the armed attack on a humanitarian convoy in North Darfur. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) strongly condemned all acts of violence against humanitarian personnel who dedicate their lives to serving those in need. The Ministry underlined that the targeting of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) convoy is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, and emphasized that humanitarian personnel must be respected and protected. Moreover, the Ministry called on the two warring parties - who have shown no regard for the extent of suffering endured by the Sudanese people - to respect their obligations under international law and their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration, and the mechanisms proposed by the Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) Group. The UAE stressed the need to implement immediate steps to protect civilians and facilitate the rapid and unhindered access of essential humanitarian aid through all available means. The Ministry underscored the UAE's steadfast and unwavering dedication to support all efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful solution to the ongoing civil war in Sudan, highlighting the importance of an immediate ceasefire and the protection of civilians. The UAE remains committed to supporting all endeavors to address this catastrophic crisis and to work alongside regional and international partners to ensure stability and peace for the people of Sudan. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The National
5 days ago
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UAE condemns aid convoy attack that killed five in Sudan
The UAE on Wednesday condemned an attack on a convoy in Sudan that killed five aid workers, in what it called a "flagrant violation" of the laws of war. The convoy of 15 lorries carrying food to the famine-stricken city of El Fasher came under attack in North Darfur late on Monday. Five were killed and several others injured, said the World Food Programme and Unicef, the two UN agencies involved. It was unclear who was responsible. El Fasher has been under siege by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since May last year, and famine conditions have been reported in the city and in nearby displacement camps during Sudan's civil war. The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on both sides in Sudan's war - the army and the RSF - to "respect their obligations" and uphold pledges to protect civilians. The attack was a "flagrant violation of international humanitarian law", and aid personnel "must be respected and protected", the ministry said. It called for "immediate steps to protect civilians and facilitate the rapid and unhindered access of essential humanitarian aid through all available means." The convoy had travelled more than 1,800km from the army's wartime capital of Port Sudan, said the agencies involved, in what would have been the UN's first such entry into the city for more than a year. They were "negotiating access" to El Fasher when the attack came.
