Met with Various Regional Leaders, Aid Officials, and Medical Providers Regarding the Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator George Helmy (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, yesterday returned to the United States following a three-day official trip to Jordan. During this trip, Senator Helmy met with various stakeholders in the region who are essential in addressing the dire humanitarian crisis in the Middle East. Senator Helmy has been very vocal during his time in office about providing life-saving humanitarian aid to citizens in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Senator Helmy believes that any sustainable solutions to the conflict in the Middle East must be rooted in a strategy that protects innocent civilians and ensures that they have hope for their future.
Upon arriving in Amman, Jordan, on Monday, October 28, Senator Helmy visited the U.S. Embassy where he met with U.S. Ambassador Yael Lempert, various relief agency representatives, and subject matter experts who gave a briefing on the humanitarian efforts from Jordan to Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
On the second day of his mission, Senator Helmy traveled to Zarqa to visit the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization (JHCO), where he met with organization leadership and personnel who shared with the Senator their mission, capabilities, experiences, and challenges to providing vital humanitarian aid to those in Gaza and the West Bank. While at the JHCO facility, Senator Helmy was given a tour of their supply warehouses with aid from several regional and international partners. Following his visit with JHCO, Senator Helmy went to the Jordan Armed Forces Joint Training Center, which houses U.S. military and the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) alike. There he met with senior U.S. and Jordanian service members and UN Operational Logistics (OPLOG), who screen and register humanitarian aid to citizens affected by the conflict. Senator Helmy then met with United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Deputy Commissioner General Antonia Marie De Meo and her senior staff for a briefing on their efforts to provide aid for Palestinian refugees in Gaza and the West Bank. To close out the day, Senator Helmy had the honor of meeting with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to discuss the conflict and humanitarian crisis in the region.
On his final day in Jordan, Senator Helmy visited another UN Warehouse on the outskirts of Amman to view humanitarian aid supplies. He then had the honor of meeting with Director Alaa Batayneh, who serves as the Chief of Staff to His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Kingdom of Jordan. During the meeting, Senator Helmy and Ambassador Lempert were briefed on the work His Majesty is doing to support the Palestinian refugees in his country and his efforts to broker peace in the region. Senator Helmy then met with JAF doctors and surgeons who shared their heartbreaking stories of their missions in Gaza and the West Bank, providing emergency medical services to thousands of Palestinians. Later in the day, Senator Helmy took a brief walking tour of the city of Amman with representatives of the U.S. Embassy.
Senator Helmy departed Amman on the morning of Thursday, October 31, and landed at John F. Kennedy airport later that evening.
The official trip to Jordan proved to be successful, allowing Senator Helmy to gain a deeper knowledge of the devastating humanitarian crisis consuming the region so he can better advocate for those in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon for the remainder of his time in office.
Senator Helmy issued the following statement on his official trip to Jordan:
“My official trip to Jordan was one of the most eye-opening experiences in my lifetime. It is one thing to watch on from afar, but being in the region, meeting with and getting briefed by the brave personnel and volunteers who have been on the ground trying to provide aid to those in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon really put things into perspective. Having met with individuals with firsthand knowledge of the conflict and humanitarian efforts, I have obtained a better appreciation of the situation on the ground in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.
“I have long said that Israel has a right to defend herself and have been a strong supporter of the military assistance provided by the United States. I also believe Israel has a duty and a legal imperative to abide by international laws and norms. That includes addressing the unprecedented humanitarian crisis consuming the region.
“The passage of two bills by the Israeli Parliament earlier this week threatening UNRWA, which provides essential aid to Gaza and the West Bank, will only exacerbate the humanitarian crisis by choking off aid from one of the only internationally-recognized entities providing real relief and aid on the ground to civilians. It is essential now, more than ever, for UNRWA to operate freely to address the most urgent humanitarian needs on the ground.
“To state that the humanitarian situation is dire is a complete understatement. Without immediate action, thousands more will be added to the devastating list of lives lost due to this conflict.
“I strongly support the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to bring an end to the conflict and to increase the flow of humanitarian aid. I echo many others in saying there must be an immediate cessation of all hostilities in the region. While this action will allow much-needed aid to quickly enter Gaza and the West Bank, rebuilding the region will be a multi-generational effort, spanning over multiple centuries according to recent estimates.
“As a Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the only Arab American currently serving in the United States Senate, I will continue to raise my voice on this issue for the remainder of my time in office in hopes that we will soon see the day that innocent civilians who call the region home can finally feel that they are safe and secure. There is no more worthy cause than ensuring that real, genuine peace reigns over conflict and bloodshed in the Middle East.”
For photos of Senator Helmy’s official trip to Jordan, click here.