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BRUSSELS / GAZA KAAG
STORY: BRUSSELS / GAZA KAAG
TRT: 02:42
SOURCE: COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 19 FEBRUARY 2024, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
1. Wide shot, Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag and delegation walking
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sigrid Kaag, Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, United Nations:
“I've just had the opportunity to brief, of course, the Council of Foreign Ministers on the Security Council Resolution 2720 on the facilitation expedition and acceleration of humanitarian assistance into Gaza, as well as negotiations around the establishment of a mechanism which is supposed to verify and monitor. Obviously, we've talked a lot about the very dire humanitarian situation and conditions inside Gaza, all aspects of security that obviously affect also our ability, that of my UN colleagues in country to deliver assistance. I would say strong support was issued for the mission, for efforts on the ground, and obviously I've also exchanged a number of suggestions in response to questions raised by Ministers of Foreign Affairs.”
3. Med shot, Kaag talking to reporters
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sigrid Kaag, Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, United Nations:
“Currently, an extension of military operation in Rafah will have very dire humanitarian consequences for the innocent civilians that are there. At the same time, we hear very clearly of course, the different voices from the Israeli war cabinet, their intent to proceed; the timing it seems to be a matter of discussion.”
5. Close up, photographer
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Sigrid Kaag, Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, United Nations:
“The potential consequences of such an operation at present time would be disastrous. There are more than a million people crammed in Rafah. It's not intended for a million people, in shelters, in random sort of plastic sheeted constructions. Health conditions are very worrisome. We know that aid is not sufficient to get in. It's harder and harder to distribute. We also have to acknowledge the fact that the security conditions, separate from military operations, due to what is called self-distribution by desperate civilians, but also looting and criminalization, is hampering efforts by the humanitarian community - UN and international or local NGOs - to deliver assistance to the people that actually need it. It is deeply, deeply troubling.”
7. Wide shot, Kaag talking to reporters
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Sigrid Kaag, Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, United Nations:
“The allegations are horrible of course, for a UN organisation. At the same time, it's also very clear when you look at the ability of the international humanitarian community to deliver assistance in Gaza right now, there is no substitute for UNWRA’s role at present. And I have reiterated that today. A number of ministers, of course, have also stressed that, but they're still negotiating about their own collective text.”
9. Pan right, Kaag walks away
Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag today (19 Feb) said, an extension of Israeli military operation in Rafah “will have very dire humanitarian consequences for the innocent civilians that are there,” and “such an operation at present time would be disastrous.”
Talking to reporters in Brussels after a meeting with the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, Kaag said, “we've talked a lot about the very dire humanitarian situation and conditions inside Gaza, all aspects of security that obviously affect also our ability, that of my UN colleagues in country to deliver assistance.”
She said, “strong support was issued for the mission, for efforts on the ground, and obviously I've also exchanged a number of suggestions in response to questions raised by Ministers of Foreign Affairs.”
Kaag said, “we hear very clearly of course, the different voices from the Israeli war cabinet, their intent to proceed; the timing it seems to be a matter of discussion.”
She said, “there are more than a million people crammed in Rafah. It's not intended for a million people, in shelters, in random sort of plastic sheeted constructions. Health conditions are very worrisome. We know that aid is not sufficient to get in. It's harder and harder to distribute. We also have to acknowledge the fact that the security conditions, separate from military operations, due to what is called self-distribution by desperate civilians, but also looting and criminalization, is hampering efforts by the humanitarian community - UN and international or local NGOs - to deliver assistance to the people that actually need it. It is deeply, deeply troubling.”
Asked about allegations that UNRWA staff had collaborated with Hamas during the 7 October attack, Kaag said, “the allegations are horrible of course, for a UN organisation. At the same time, it's also very clear when you look at the ability of the international humanitarian community to deliver assistance in Gaza right now, there is no substitute for UNWRA’s role at present. And I have reiterated that today. A number of ministers, of course, have also stressed that, but they're still negotiating about their own collective text.”
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