By Manal El Warraky
German Ambassador to Egypt Jürgen Scholz has traveled to Arish for his third visit since assuming his post as German Ambassador to Egypt in August 2024.
His visit coincides with the arrival of a humanitarian aid plane carrying 98 tons of vital supplies for the people of Gaza. The German Red Cross shipment consists of 217 pallets of essential supplies, including 75 pallets of family tents (totaling 450 tents) and 142 pallets containing approximately 14,000 pieces of tarpaulin.
Upon arrival in Egypt, the relief supplies were handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent and will be sent to the Palestinian Red Crescent for distribution within Gaza once humanitarian access is restored. Ambassador Scholz emphasized that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is tragic, stating: “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is catastrophic. Germany continues to support the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and emphasizes the urgent need for its permanent and sustainable implementation.
It is crucial that all hostages are released and that the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza continues uninterrupted. We appreciate Egypt’s mediation role and efforts to extend the ceasefire.
It is essential that all parties fulfill their international obligations and ensure the rapid, safe, and unrestricted delivery of aid. Humanitarian aid must not be politicized or made conditional on the continuation of the ceasefire.”
Ambassador Scholz’s visit included several important meetings. He met with Major General Dr. Khaled Megawer, Governor of North Sinai, to discuss the current situation at the regional level.
This was followed by a short tour of the Rafah border crossing to gain an overview of the current situation. He also visited the Egyptian Red Crescent’s logistics center, where he met with representatives to exchange information on the current situation. Since October 7, 2023, the German Foreign Ministry has provided more than €300 million in aid to the Palestinian territories, over 90% of which has gone to the Gaza Strip.
The World Food Programme currently maintains approximately 12,000 tons of food in its warehouses in Gaza, covering just over a third of the monthly needs. Germany remains one of the WFP’s largest donors.
Ambassador Scholz concluded by reaffirming Germany’s commitment to the people of Gaza, saying: “Germany will continue to stand by the people of Gaza for a better future. It is in all of our interests to work towards a lasting solution to the conflict.”
