Qatar's Permanent Representative to the United Nations HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani participated in the session organised by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on the situation in Palestine, particularly the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, at the UN headquarters in New York.
In a speech, HE Sheikha Alya welcomed the detailed and comprehensive briefing provided by UN officials on the catastrophic humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.
She also expressed Qatar's deep concern over the situation in the Gaza Strip and its dire consequences for civilians, especially children and women.
In light of the adoption of resolution by the UN General Assembly titled “Protection of Civilians and Upholding Legal and Humanitarian Obligations in Gaza”, which Qatar co-sponsored, and pursuant to it, she noted the urgent need for the entry of humanitarian aid in an adequate, safe and sustainable manner into the Gaza Strip, and stressed Qatar's call for the provision of essential goods and services to the population, including water, food, medical supplies, fuel and electricity, consistent with international humanitarian law which stresses that civilians must not be deprived of goods and services that are indispensable for their survival.
HE Sheikha Alya reiterated that Qatar condemns all forms of targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure, which is considered a serious violation of international law.
An example of such are those carried out by the occupation forces on schools, hospitals, mosques and churches, which led to serious injuries and caused the deaths of innocent children, women and the elderly.
She stressed the need for an immediate ceasefire, the de-escalation of hostilities, the exercise of utmost restraint and the protection of civilians to prevent the expansion of violence and the cycle of conflict in the region.
Within the framework of humanitarian efforts, she indicated that the total Qatari aid reached 124 tonnes and represented a lifeline for the Palestinian people who face difficult humanitarian conditions.
She also confirmed that Qatar continues to support basic funding for the UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), with the state pledging to provide $18mn to fund the agency for the 2023-24 period.
On October 12, the Qatar Red Crescent Society, she said, allocated $1mn from its Disaster Response Fund for an initial emergency intervention plan, aimed at providing critically needed medicines, medical supplies, and ambulance vehicles, to ensure the operability of emergency, surgery, and intensive care unit (ICU) departments at Gaza hospitals.
She added that Qatar Charity is distributing urgent relief aid, including food, shelter, non-food items, water, and providing comprehensive relief and health services.
HE Sheikha Alya affirmed that Qatar is committed to alleviating the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people and meeting their urgent humanitarian needs.
HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani
