Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, is in Egypt from 27 to 29 November to work with the Egyptian authorities and humanitarian partners on the ground on increasing the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Her programme includes a meeting with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to discuss the conditions needed to move humanitarian assistance safely and at scale into Gaza and enable the parties to fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law.
A joint press point will take place on Thursday 27 November at 08:30 EGY, live on EBS.
The visit will also address Egypt’s role in supporting refugees from the wars in Gaza and Sudan.
Egypt hosts over 1.5 million Sudanese refugees and asylum seekers. And since October 2023, over 130,000 people – including 30,000 children – have fled from Gaza to Egypt.
Commissioner Lahbib will visit the UNHCR Reception Centre where refugees from Sudan register and meet with UN agencies and humanitarian partners.
The Commissioner will be meeting with civil society and Egyptian women, in particular, who are engaged on issues ranging from women’s rights and protection to social development and community work. She will also brief the EU Heads of missions in Cairo.
On Friday, the Commissioner will meet with the Governor of North Sinai, Major General Khaled Magawer, in Al Arish.
It will be followed by a visit to the Rafah crossing point on the border with Gaza, once a main entry route for aid and medical evacuations, which remains closed by Israeli authorities.
Another press point will be held on site at 15:00 EGY, live on EBS.
‘Over one month into a fragile ceasefire, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire’ Commissioner Hadja Lahbib stressed. ‘The UN Security Council resolution has provided a way forward and now it must be put into action. The scale of civilian suffering in Gaza demands immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access. All parties responsible for this violence must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. Egypt plays a crucial role in keeping access open and in supporting people forced to flee the wars in Gaza and Sudan. We will do everything we can to ensure that assistance reaches those who need it most.’
In 2025, the Commission has allocated €7 million in humanitarian aid to help the most vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt.
