Met humanitarian organisations working in Gaza

“The situation in the region is affecting virtually everyone. It was very powerful to hear these stories. It was extremely disturbing.

“At the same time, we must not lose hope of finding a peaceful solution for all the people of this region. We owe a big debt of thanks to those who, at the risk of their own lives and personal safety, are entering Gaza and seeking to alleviate the dramatic situation there,” said Crown Princess Mette-Marit to the press after the meeting in the Norwegian Ambassador’s official residence in Cairo Thursday morning.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide met with representatives of humanitarian organisations who have been working in Gaza. Photo: Cornelius Poppe, NTB

The Crown Princess met with the humanitarian organisations together with the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide and Norwegian Ambassador to Egypt Hilde Klemetsdal.

The aid workers shared their experiences and impressions from Gaza and the efforts to bring humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza.

Participants at the meeting were Andrea de Domenico, Head of Office for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territory (OCHA OPT); Pascale Coissard, Emergency Coordinator in Gaza for Doctors Without Borders; Geir Stray Andreassen, orthopaedic surgeon at Oslo University Hospital, who is working in Gaza for the Norwegian Aid Committee (NORWAC); and Stephanie Case, Chief of the Protection Division at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA).

UN staff and employees of humanitarian organisations rotate in and out of Gaza. The first surgical team with six Norwegians from NORWAC entered on January 10 to work at Gaza European Hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

Crown Princess Mette-Marit in conversation with orthopaedic surgeon Geir Stray Andreassen, who left Gaza on Wednesday. The doctor has spent the past two weeks working at Gaza European Hospital as part of a team of six Norwegian doctors and nurses. Photo: Cornelius Poppe, NTB