PARIS (MENA) – Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Ambassador Tarek Dahroug reiterated Egypt’s steadfast commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and its firm rejection of targeting civilians or destroying vital infrastructure.
He also emphasised Egypt’s full readiness to cooperate with UNESCO and all international partners to alleviate the humanitarian suffering faced by the Palestinians.
In his speech before the 224th session of the UNESCO Executive Board meetings on Tuesday, Ambassador Dahroug expressed Egypt’s delegation’s welcome for the adoption of a resolution on the “Impact and Consequences of the Current Situation in the Gaza Strip/Palestine” on all aspects of UNESCO’s mandate, which was agreed upon by consensus.
The Egyptian representative praised the progress made by the UNESCO Secretariat in implementing the urgent assistance program for the Gaza Strip through the comprehensive recovery action plan for the area.
He also commended the organisation’s effective response to the developments in Gaza across its various areas of expertise.
He highlighted Egypt’s position on the importance of ensuring the continuity of the educational process, through rehabilitating damaged educational institutions and supporting education in emergencies, particularly through the “Virtual Campus in Gaza” initiative, which Egypt is supporting through the “Egyptian Knowledge Bank” as a leading digital educational platform, enabling students to continue their academic journey despite the current conditions.
Ambassador Dahroug called on UNESCO to continue and intensify its efforts to protect threatened cultural heritage, support access to reliable information, protect journalists, and promote freedom of expression.
On both humanitarian and political fronts, Ambassador Dahroug stressed Egypt’s continued central role in responding to the crisis by facilitating humanitarian aid.
Since October 2023, Egypt has provided about 70% of the total international relief efforts for Gaza and has received the largest number of Palestinian casualties who needed evacuation and treatment in Egyptian hospitals or abroad.
He also pointed out Egypt’s efforts in intensive mediation, in coordination with its international partners, aiming to achieve a ceasefire and create conditions for recovery and reconstruction, including through mobilizing international support and hosting relevant conferences.
Ambassador Dahroug concluded by reaffirming Egypt’s commitment to completing the implementation of the second phase of the US President’s plan, ensuring the unrestricted flow of humanitarian, relief, and medical aid, and adhering fully to international law and humanitarian law. This, he said, would help alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and pave the way for recovery and stability.
