Tánaiste to meet aid workers at Rafah border crossing
Palestinians wait to cross into Egypt at the Rafah border crossing in the Gaza Strip. Picture: AP Photo/Fatima Shbair
The Tánaiste is to travel to the Rafah border to meet those providing aid and support to 1.7 million Palestinians in Gaza.
Micheál Martin will speak with representatives from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) when he makes his way to the border crossing between Egypt and Gaza on Tuesday and will meet with staff from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
He will also hold a discussion with Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry as part of a wider visit to the Middle East region this week.
On Wednesday, Mr Martin will travel to Jordan where he will visit an UNWRA refugee camp.
More than two million registered Palestinian refugees live in Jordan, the largest number of all UNRWA fields.
The Tánaiste will also meet with Jordanian foreign minister Ayman Safad while there.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, the Tánaiste said: “I remain deeply concerned by the potential for any further escalation in the Middle East. Ireland has been very clear in its condemnation of the large-scale attack by Iran on Israel. We are equally clear in condemning any retaliation. We continue to appeal to all parties to show maximum restraint, to focus on de-escalation and ensure we prevent a spiralling of conflict. Amidst these developments, it is vital that we do not lose sight of the abhorrent humanitarian situation in Gaza, and I will underline this today."
Before leaving for Egypt this evening, Mr Martin will take part in a meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg today. The Council’s discussions will focus on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, and Sudan.
The Council will be followed by a High-Level Forum on Regional Cooperation and Security meeting with Gulf Cooperation Council Foreign Ministers.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
