Germany releases 50 million euros in aid for civilians in Gaza
Germany will release 50 million euros in additional aid with immediate effect for the civilian population of Gaza who are facing a humanitarian situation “catastrophic”announced Thursday the head of German diplomacy, Annalena Baerbock, visiting Jordan “Our message is clear: we are not abandoning innocent Palestinian mothers, fathers and children”declared the minister during a press conference in Amman alongside her Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi, according to comments transmitted by her ministry.
With this additional help, “we support international organizations like the World Food Program, Unicef and especially Unrwa [agence de l’ONU pour les réfugiés palestiniens] so that the people of Gaza can be supplied with food”specified Mme Baerbock. “We are preparing to be able to send medical teams to Gaza”she added.
Saluting “signals” giving hope of an opening “at least limited” from the Rafah crossing point, between Egypt and the Gaza Strip, Mme Baerbock called on all stakeholders to “overcoming the last obstacles” to achieve this. “We need places in Gaza where civilians, families and children can be treated in complete safety, that is to say places of civilian infrastructure, hospitals and schools”she added.
Jordan is the first stop on a tour of the Middle East by the German minister who still has to visit Israel and Lebanon until Saturday. Mme Baerbock had already visited Israel and Egypt last week.
Before her departure on Thursday, she had reaffirmed “unfailing solidarity” of Germany towards Israel and denounced “Hamas’ perfidious calculation to expose the Palestinian civilian population to death, distress and suffering”. Qualifying as “catastrophic” the humanitarian situation in Gaza, she judged “essential that international aid, food, water and medical care reach the people of Gaza quickly and unhindered”.
During this trip, she also wishes “discuss with everyone who has channels with Hamas how the hostages can be released”. Several people with German nationality were kidnapped by Hamas during the massive attack on Israel on October 7.