Insights on the Dutch Diplomat Spearheading Aid Efforts in Gaza
Sigrid Kaag, a highly experienced Dutch politician and seasoned United Nations diplomat, has been appointed by the UN Secretary General to lead efforts in providing crucial humanitarian aid to the devastated region of Gaza
Dutch politician and veteran United Nations diplomat Sigrid Kaag will lead the international effort to provide humanitarian aid to war-torn Gaza, as announced by the UN Secretary General on Tuesday. She will be resigning from her position as finance minister and deputy prime minister of the Netherlands to take on this new role as the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza. This position was created following a breakthrough UN Security Council resolution earlier this month.
"Peace, security, and justice have always been my driving force," stated Kaag. "I have taken on this important task with the aim of making a positive impact on the future."
The appointment is scheduled to begin on January 8, as the situation in the blockaded Palestinian territory deteriorates to what the head of the World Health Organization referred to as "nightmarish" levels following a recent visit. Hospitals are running out of power and medicine, putting the population of Gaza at risk of famine, according to humanitarian organizations.
Ever since the start of the war on October 7 due to Hamas terror attacks, Israel has only permitted a small number of trucks to deliver humanitarian aid into Gaza through Egypt's Rafah crossing. The United Nations has criticized this as inadequate to meet the needs of Gaza's population of over 2 million, describing it as a mere trickle. Additionally, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned Israel's tactics in Gaza, particularly the intensive aerial bombardment, for obstructing the distribution of humanitarian aid within Gaza.
Kaag has been tasked with developing a system to expedite aid delivery into Gaza and overseeing the facilitation, coordination, monitoring, and verification of the relief effort, including the screening of aid trucks to prevent the transport of non-humanitarian items. The UN Security Council passed the resolution establishing this role last week, despite initial delays and negotiations, with the US abstaining from the vote. The resolution aimed to ensure immediate, safe, and unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid across Gaza.
Seasoned diplomat, Arabic speaker
In a speech last month, Kaag stressed the need for "adequate humanitarian aid" to reach Gaza.
The importance of Israel's right to exist and defend itself is obvious to us. However, in these difficult times, it is crucial that acts of war adhere to international law and the laws of war to prevent innocent civilian casualties and ensure timely humanitarian aid, she commented.
Kaag has previously worked on Palestinian issues as a senior official at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. She later served as an Assistant SecretaryâGeneral with the United Nations Development Programme and, from 2015 to 2017, as the United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon, according to a biography provided by the UN.
In response to the appointment, a Dutch government official informed CNN that Kaag is considered to be highly qualified for the position.
"She is a seasoned diplomat with a deep understanding of the Middle East and is fluent in Arabic. Prior to her political career in the Netherlands, she served as a UN envoy and negotiated with Assad regarding Syria's chemical weapons," stated the official.
The effort in Syria, resulting from a last-minute plan between the US and Russia to prevent US military intervention, was deemed a success. Then US President Barack Obama praised the destruction of Syria's declared chemical weapons stockpile as an "important achievement." "The nearly impossible deadlines meant that we couldn't afford to waste a single moment," Kaag told a Harvard interviewer in 2014. "We were focused on our message and mission, seeking measurable results."
Kaag went on to hold several Dutch electoral positions, successfully leading the social liberal party D66 to victory in a 2021 vote, and serving in different cabinet roles, such as minister of foreign affairs and minister of trade and development cooperation.
However, her time as foreign minister was short-lived, as she resigned in September 2021 following criticism from the Dutch parliament for her handling of the Kabul evacuation after the Taliban takeover.
Kaag described her work with the Dutch cabinet as "special and challenging" in her statement on Tuesday, highlighting advancements in climate change and support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. She had previously announced her plans to exit from politics in July, citing an "toxic" online atmosphere of intimidation and threats, as reported by Reuters.
She expressed that it turns into a barrage of derogatory remarks aimed at vilifying and dismantling a person. She stated this at a Council on Foreign Relations gathering in September, emphasizing that it undermines the integrity of our democracy if this behavior continues to be accepted. On Tuesday, international diplomats commended the news in their statements, marking an end to months of disagreement and stalemate in the UN Security Council regarding the provision of aid to Gaza civilians.
Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot has expressed confidence in Sigrid Kaag, citing her extensive knowledge and broad diplomatic experience as qualities that make her the right person for the challenging role. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield also looks forward to working with Sigrid Kaag and supporting her efforts to streamline and accelerate the UN's life-saving work in Gaza, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
