Roland Friedrich, Marcus Bachmann, Christoph Sternat & Mona Ali Khalil: HUMANITARIAN AID 2026 - HOW CAN IT GET TO THOSE WHO NEED IT?

Tessa Szyszkowitz im Gespräch mit Roland Friedrich, Marcus
Bachmann, Christoph Sternat, Mona Ali Khalil





HUMANITARIAN AID 2026: HOW CAN IT GET TO THOSE WHO NEED
IT?





Humanitarian aid for the Palestinian civilian population is
currently facing major political and practical challenges. The UN
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA), which has played a crucial role in providing aid,
healthcare, and education for decades, is increasingly restricted
in its ability to operate. The activities of UNRWA and those of
NGOs like doctors Without Borders in Israel and the Palestinian
territories have been severely curtailed or even banned.


Nevertheless, the United Nations and these NGOs continues to
strive to maintain basic aid services. In cooperation with
international organizations and local partners, the UN is working
to provide humanitarian assistance, medical care, and educational
opportunities for the Palestinian population, particularly in the
Gaza Strip and the West Bank.


Given the tense political situation and the difficult security
conditions, the question arises as to how humanitarian aid can be
organized under these circumstances – and what prospects exist
for the future of international support in Gaza and the West
Bank.





Roland Friedrich, Director of UNRWA affairs,
Westbank





Marcus Bachmann, Advocacy and Humanitarian
Affairs Advisor, Doctors without Borders/MSF Austria, Head of
Mission for the Occupied Palestinian Territory until end of march





Christoph Sternat, Head of Unit, Department for
Humanitarian Aid in the framework of EU, aid in crisis regions
and fragile states, Austrian ministry for European and Foreign
affairs BMEIA





Mona Ali Khalil, Director of MAK Law
International, Non-Resident Faculty of the Vienna Diplomatic
Academy, Affiliate of Harvard Law School and former Senior Legal
Officer in the UN and IAEA.





Moderation:


Tessa Szyszkowitz, author and journalist.
Distinguished Fellow at Royal United Services Institute in London
(RUSI)