The temporary ceasefire between Hamas and Israel must become permanent to facilitate the delivery of crucial aid to Gaza, stated Amy Pope, director general of the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM), during an interview with Anadolu at the Davos summit in Switzerland.
“Without a ceasefire, it’s impossible to get essential goods to those in dire need,” Pope emphasized about the ceasefire, which began on Sunday.
She highlighted the immense humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where basic necessities like shelter, food, clean water, medicine, and hygiene supplies remain unmet.
“Without a ceasefire, we cannot provide the necessary assistance to those who need it most,” she reiterated.
Pope urged negotiators to find a sustainable solution, stressing the desperation within the humanitarian community for the ceasefire to hold. “Our primary responsibility is to deliver humanitarian aid; the specifics of the ceasefire implementation are beyond our involvement,” she added.
She pointed to significant challenges in delivering aid, including ongoing conflict, safety concerns, looting, and threats to aid workers, which have severely hampered operations.
Pope underscored the crucial role of the international community in supporting and maintaining the ceasefire to ensure aid delivery. She acknowledged the substantial work still required in Gaza.
Regarding Syria, Pope highlighted the necessity of comprehensive reconstruction to enable the safe return of Syrian refugees. She stressed the importance of collaboration with host countries like Türkiye, which have supported large numbers of Syrian refugees, to manage their return effectively.
“Syrian communities worldwide are closely watching the situation. Engaging with them to assess damage, evaluate safety, and ensure reconstruction alongside their return is essential. The key question is how swiftly the international community can create a safe environment for their return,” she noted.
Pope estimated that approximately 1 million Syrians could potentially return next year, contingent on stability and reconstruction efforts in Syria.
Discussing global migration trends, Pope remarked that more people are displaced now than ever before, driven by war, natural disasters, education opportunities, or poverty. She highlighted the significant reliance of global economies on migrant labor.
She emphasized the need for safe and legal migration pathways, stating, “The current system fails to meet these needs. We need collaboration from the private sector, governments, and stakeholders to create systems that are effective, fair, and enable legal migration.”
