IFRC President visits Rafah border crossing

CAIRO – 8 February 2024: New President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Kate Forbes made an inspection visit to the Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip and inspected aid stores in the city of Al-Arish, on Wednesday.

She was accompanied by Major General Dr. Mohamed Abdel Fadil Shousha, Governor of North Sinai.

Egyptian Red Crescent officials reviewed the number of trucks that have entered the Gaza Strip since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on the strip, the tons they carry, and the procedures followed for the aid entry.

"It's been an honor to meet the volunteers, the staff of @EG_Red_Crescent and see how they are helping full of humanity".

Hear more from our President @KateForbes_IFRC during her recent visit to El-Arish, Egypt. pic.twitter.com/pJeh21OtWU

— IFRC (@ifrc) February 8, 2024

For her part, Forbes thanked the Egyptian Red Crescent team in North Sinai for their humanitarian efforts.

I visited Gaza today, where I witness the catastrophic and utterly dire conditions first hand. What I saw reiterated that civilians, medical facilities and our Red Cross and Red Crescent teams need protection. Our teams need access to deliver vital-lifesaving humanitarian aid.… pic.twitter.com/3ZdwB2I6Bx

— Kate Forbes (@KateForbes_IFRC) February 7, 2024

In her comments to the CNN after the visit, Forbes said that there is a humanitarian catastrophe she has never seen over her 43 years of the work, adding “I saw people needing clean water, I saw people needing adequate food, I saw people living in conditions that are just unacceptable. What I saw was the need for massive humanitarian aid."

“I saw people needing clean water, I saw people needing adequate food, I saw people living in conditions that are just unacceptable. What I saw was the need for massive humanitarian aid." @KateForbes_IFRC, IFRC president talking on @CNN after her mission in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/qt23ppvZaG

— IFRC (@ifrc) February 8, 2024