News item | 08-12-2023 | 08:30
Minister Geoffrey van Leeuwen (Development Cooperation) has appointed a special humanitarian envoy for Gaza and the surrounding region. From today, diplomat Marjanne de Kwaasteniet will commit herself to providing acute emergency assistance to people affected by the battle between Israel and Hamas.
To provide aid, the Netherlands collaborates with UN organizations such as OCHA, UNRWA, UNICEF and the World Food Organization.
In practice, it is not possible to get sufficient humanitarian aid into Gaza. The envoy will therefore work on all humanitarian themes: improving unhindered access for emergency aid in Gaza, the safety of aid workers and the promotion of humanitarian breaks and corridors to help people or evacuate them to safe places. Compliance with international humanitarian law is of great importance.
‘The humanitarian situation is extremely dire and aid organizations are doing what they can. In Gaza and the region, our partners help with shelter, food and water, medical care and psychosocial support,” says Minister Van Leeuwen. ‘But access to people in need and the protection of aid workers are not guaranteed. Our envoy will work towards that. All our attention is focused on ensuring that maximum humanitarian assistance is provided in Gaza.”
Marjanne de Kwaasteniet was ambassador to NATO and to Turkey and Jordan. She will work closely with fellow envoys from the US and Germany and collaborate with UN organizations, the international Red Cross and Dutch emergency aid organizations.