CAIRO – Egyptian Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad said Monday that Egypt stood up to what she called “unacceptable prejudice” against Gaza, rejecting attempts to describe what is happening in the besieged Palestinian enclave as an environmental disaster.
Fouad said she made that very clear in her address at the 6th UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6), which wrapped up work in Nairobi, Kenya, Saturday.
Speaking to reporters via Zoom, the minister replied to a question by MENA about possible compensations for Gazans from the Loss and Damage Fund, noting that this is only applicable in cases of natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes. What is happening in Gaza is a genocide war and deliberate destruction, she stressed.
The minister warned of the repercussions of war for the Red Sea environment, especially in terms of biodiversity.
Fouad pressed for studying the environmental impact of the war on Gaza, noting that the UNEA won’t send teams to assess the situation until the war is over.