Palestinians gather in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, to collect meals from a charity kitchen due to continuing shortages of aid supplies. (Reuters)
The conference will bring together foreign ministers from various countries and international representatives of UN agencies, including UNRWA.
The event will address the political, security, and humanitarian aspects of the situation in Gaza, with a particular emphasis on supporting UNRWA's operations.
Titled "A Year of Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza: Urgent Needs and Sustainable Solutions," the conference is being held in Cairo amid ongoing international calls for Israel to lift restrictions on aid entering the devastated strip.
The UN will be heavily involved in the conference. Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed arrived in Cairo Sunday evening to represent Secretary-General António Guterres at the event.
According to the UN official website, Mohammed will deliver her remarks at the opening ceremony.
She is also expected to stress the importance of all parties complying with their obligations under international law, emphasizing that humanitarian aid delivery must be predictable and sustained.
Mohammed is expected to hold discussions with Egypt's Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and other delegation heads on the sidelines of the conference.
On the eve of the conference, Mahmoud Omar, Chargé d'Affairs of the Egyptian Ambassador to Palestine, highlighted Egypt's efforts to end the war on Gaza and how Egypt had ensured humanitarian aid delivery before Israel took control of the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing.
Speaking at a seminar on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Omar reaffirmed Egypt's rejection of efforts to liquidate the Palestinian cause. He added that the international conference in Cairo aims to mobilize humanitarian aid for Gaza.
Since the beginning of the Israeli war on Gaza, Egypt has played a vital role in facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid to the strip, including food, medicine, and other essential supplies.
Beginning 7 October 2023, Israel's brutal war on Gaza has left nearly 150,000 Palestinians either killed or injured. Israeli airstrikes and bombardment have severely damaged Gaza's infrastructure, displacing most of the population.
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