The Government of Catalonia convened the Catalan Emergency Humanitarian Aid Committee (CCAHE) on Wednesday to coordinate the Catalan response to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. During the session, the main humanitarian actors in Catalonia – more than twenty organizations from the Catalan development cooperation sector –, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and other public administrations, have shared updated information about the complex situation that is being experienced on the ground, as well as the most urgent humanitarian needs that are currently present in the territory.

Minister Serret, who has presided over the CCAHE, has called for a ceasefire and for the escalation of violence to stop, and for compliance with international law. In addition, she added "that safe areas are to be guaranteed for civilians and for the entry of humanitarian aid".

In a press conference after the CCAHE, the minister announced that the Catalan Government will contribute with more than one million euros to the UNRWA. Specifically, it includes a donation of €800,000 that the Government already announced last week, with an additional contribution of €295,000 announced yesterday. These financial resources will be used to deal with the humanitarian emergency that is currently being experienced in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Since 2019, UNRWA has been the Catalan Government's priority actor in cooperation work in Palestine.

About the Emergency Humanitarian Aid Committee

The CCAHE is created to coordinate the efforts of Catalan public administrations and civil society in humanitarian emergency situations to provide an agile and effective response.

In this sense, the budget of the Generalitat de Catalunya has a section dedicated to humanitarian emergencies, which this year was increased by 50% and went from 4 to 6 million euros.

Catalan cooperation in Palestine

Palestine has traditionally been a priority country for the development and cooperation of the Government of Catalonia. From the beginning, the Catalan Development Cooperation Agency has focused on supporting the needs of the most vulnerable population, working actively in defense of human rights, and moving towards peace and conflict resolution.

The Catalan Government works for the development and improvement of the quality of life of the Palestinian people in the territories of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. In recent years, and under the mandate of the last two master plans for development and cooperation, the Catalan Government has prioritized actions in the promotion and defense of women's rights.

Minister Serret has called for a ceasefire and for the escalation of violence to stop and for compliance with international law.