FM meets UN humanitarian affairs chief in New York

CAIRO- 16 September, 2017: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock, the spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Ahmed Abo-Zeid stated on Saturday.

This meeting came on the sidelines of Egypt's participation in the meetings of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The UN official demanded to meet Shoukry to know Egypt's vision towards the challenges which face the humanitarian conditions in different world countries especially in the Middle East.

Shoukry congratulated Lowcock on his assumption of office earlier this month and appreciated the UN efforts in leading the international efforts in the field of relief.

The meeting also discussed the current regional developments and ways of intensifying humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of the peoples of the region.

Shoukry briefed the UN envoy on the humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip and Egyptian efforts to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Lowcock expressed appreciation to the key Egyptian role in humanitarian support and his keenness on strengthening cooperation with Egypt in this field in the coming period.

The foreign minister was posted by Lowcock on his visions towards ways of developing the international humanitarian action system.

The top diplomat said that Cairo seeks to provide all forms of support to the UN bodies working in the humanitarian field especially the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Shoukry deplored the inability of the international community to confront the danger of many famines and droughts in Africa.