Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty met with the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain, on Monday on the sidelines of the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) to discuss the humanitarian situation in Gaza and Egypt’s efforts to enhance food security.
During the meeting, Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s appreciation for its cooperation with the WFP and affirmed the priority Egypt places on establishing mechanisms to achieve food security in developing countries, especially in light of the worsening climate crisis and disruptions to supply chains.
The minister said Egypt looks forward to cooperating with the WFP to build a global centre for grain storage, supply, and trade on Egyptian soil to ensure food security and strengthen supply chains in the Middle East.
Abdelatty also reviewed Egypt’s national efforts to achieve food security within its “Vision 2030” development plan. He highlighted the challenges the country faces due to hosting nearly 10 million foreigners, which requires international support to help Egypt meet its obligations towards them.
On the situation in Gaza, the foreign minister praised the WFP’s role in supporting humanitarian relief efforts and its calls for a ceasefire and urgent action to end the famine. He detailed Egypt’s ongoing efforts to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Strip and stressed the need to mobilise the international community to pressure Israel to stop using starvation as a weapon of war and to allow the entry of aid waiting on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing.
Abdelatty also reviewed Egypt’s preparations to host an international conference for the early recovery and reconstruction of Gaza once a ceasefire is reached, expressing his hope for the WFP’s active participation.
