Ashraf AboArafe
Arab Ministers of Social Affairs acknowledge continuing to support the Gaza Strip socially and humanitarianly, and supporting countries facing conflicts and challenges at the top of the agenda of the 43rd session of the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs.
Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh – Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Head of the Social Affairs Sector, stated that the Arab Ministers of Social Affairs, in their (43rd) session meeting, headed by Ms. Minister Nevin Al-Qabbaj – Minister of Social Solidarity, held their work on December 20. 2023 In Cairo, they approved the continuation of support for the people of the Gaza Strip, as a result of the continuation of the brutal practices of Israel – the occupying power. They also stressed the continuation of this support, until the situation stabilizes and the process of redressing the difficult social and humanitarian impacts on the people of the Strip begins. In this regard, they praised the keenness of many Arab countries, for providing relief, social, humanitarian and health support, and their keenness to follow up, thanking Minister Nevin Al-Kabbaj, for her efforts in her capacity as Vice President of the Red Crescent, to deliver aid to the Councils of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs and Health, as well as the aid of Arab countries and friendly countries, and her diligent follow-up to all Relevant details, within the framework of the directives of the Egyptian presidency, which thanked and appreciated this effort, which it described as tremendous.
Ambassador Abu Ghazaleh explained that the ministers also approved a number of important decisions, within the framework of the Council’s jurisdiction, especially with regard to the preparations for the next Arab Summit, at its (33rd) session in the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as the Fifth Arab Development Summit: Economic and Social, in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, This is in addition to approving a number of strategies, plans and programs related to eliminating multidimensional poverty, promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, and topics related to the elderly, family and childhood, in addition to providing support to a number of social projects in member states.
At the conclusion of her statement, she praised the important preparations made by the Arab Republic of Egypt, thanking Her Excellency Minister Nevin Al-Kabbaj – Minister of Social Solidarity and all concerned authorities in the Egyptian state for organizing the work of the session in the best and easiest conditions, and stated that it is expected that the Arab Ministers of Social Affairs will open On December 21, the Nour Initiative for Persons with Disabilities, sponsored by the League of Arab States and the Ministry of Social Solidarity, constitutes an important model at the Arab level within the framework of achieving the principle of living independently for persons with disabilities. She also thanked Her Excellency Minister Maryam Al-Misnad – Minister of Social Development and Family in the UAE. Qatar, for its efforts during its presidency of the previous session of the Council (42), praising the achievements achieved during that session as well as the initiatives undertaken by Minister Maryam Al-Misnad.
