Egypt calls on UN to address critical conflicts in Middle East

CAIRO - 12 November 2024: Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Dr. Badr Abdel Aty held discussions with directors of United Nations regional offices in Cairo, addressing the escalating crises and conflicts impacting the Middle East.

Abdel Aty emphasized Egypt’s dedication to UN principles, being a founding member, and reiterated Egypt’s commitment to the UN's role in maintaining international peace and security. He highlighted Egypt’s decades-long leadership within the UN framework, contributing significantly to regional and global stability.

Minister Abdel Aty provided a comprehensive overview of the serious conflicts affecting the Middle East, focusing on Gaza, Sudan, Libya, and Lebanon. He underscored the complex economic, environmental, food, and health challenges that add strain to these regions, rendering the Middle East one of the areas most in need of humanitarian, developmental, and economic assistance.

These conditions, he noted, amplify the need for UN regional offices to coordinate humanitarian aid and strengthen developmental programs, supporting countries and communities to prioritize and address their specific national needs amid diverse economic development levels.

Abdel Aty affirmed Egypt’s crucial role within the region, citing its longstanding partnership with the UN and its support for hosting numerous regional organizations. He expressed the Egyptian government’s ongoing commitment to assisting UN offices in Cairo, providing necessary resources to support their activities.

In an interactive discussion, Abdel Aty heard UN officials’ views on expanding future collaboration between Egypt and the UN, particularly through its specialized agencies.

The meeting also featured Engineer Khaled Abbas, Chairman and CEO of the Administrative Capital for Urban Development (ACUD). Abbas presented the capabilities of Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, including facilities prepared for relocating UN offices to a unified headquarters designed to host UN and international agencies operating in Egypt.

This unified headquarters offers comprehensive support for the UN’s work and mission in the region.