Bharat joined a significant humanitarian conference focused on Gaza, held in Amman, Jordan. Muktesh Pardeshi, the Secretary of the Consular Passport and Visa Division and Overseas Bharatiya Affairs of the Ministry of External Affairs, represented Bharat at this event.
The conference aimed to address urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza and was co-hosted by Jordan’s King Abdullah, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Bharat’s Commitment to Humanitarian Aid
During the conference, Muktesh Pardeshi highlighted Bharat’s consistent efforts in providing humanitarian aid, building capacity, and supporting development projects in Gaza. Over the years, Bharat’s development assistance to Palestine has amounted to nearly USD 120 million.
As part of its ongoing commitment, Bharat is set to disburse an additional USD 2.5 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for relief efforts in Gaza soon, as stated by MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
Secy (CPV & OIA) @MukteshPardeshi represented India at the High Level Conference in Amman on 'Urgent Humanitarian Response for Gaza'.
The conference was co-hosted by H.M. @KingAbdullahII of Jordan, President @AlsisiOfficial of Egypt & UNSG @antonioguterres.
Secretary… pic.twitter.com/olkSwS93u1
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 12, 2024
The need for urgent humanitarian assistance in Gaza has intensified following a severe escalation of conflict. On October 7, Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and around 250 hostages. Responding, Israel initiated a strong military counteroffensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, aiming to “completely eliminate” the group. Unfortunately, these operations have led to significant civilian casualties, with reports indicating over 37,000 Palestinian deaths.
The United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO), and various human rights organizations have described the situation in Gaza as a “humanitarian catastrophe.” This underscores the critical need for international cooperation and aid to address the suffering and displacement of civilians in the region.
Bharat’s Role in the Quad Maritime Security Working Group
In a separate development, Bharat also participated in the Quad Maritime Security Working Group meeting held in Sydney on June 6-7. Dammu Ravi, the Secretary (ER) of the Ministry of External Affairs, represented Bharat at this event. The group, which includes Australia, Bharat, Japan, and the United States, discussed ongoing cooperation to tackle maritime challenges and explored opportunities to enhance engagement and support for regional partners, aiming to ensure the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.
The Quad alliance is dedicated to promoting an open, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. According to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Quad focuses on delivering practical outcomes addressing the region’s most pressing challenges.
These include health security, climate change, infrastructure development, critical and emerging technologies, cybersecurity, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, space, maritime security, countering disinformation, and counter-terrorism.
Bharat’s active participation in these international efforts highlights its commitment to global humanitarian causes and regional security initiatives.
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