As the Gaza War truce between Israel and Hamas, which started 25 November, extends for two more days as of today 28 November, humanitarian aid is flowing from Egypt into Gaza. Egypt’s Social Solidarity Minister Nivine al-Kabbag has reported to the Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on the role of the Egyptian Red Crescent on this score.
The Minister explained that the Red Crescent has prepared logistical areas to receive the humanitarian aid donated from various places in Egypt to the people of Gaza. Some 1,700 volunteers work in these logistical locations, Ms Kabbag said, receiving, sorting, preparing, packaging and loading the humanitarian aid donated as relief to the people of Gaza.
With regard to health services and psychological support, the Minister said, 150 doctors and 100 nurses were trained, in cooperation with the relevant Egyptian medical syndicates, to work in disaster sites. In addition, she explained, teams of pharmacists have been receiving and sorting medicines and medical supplies and devices donated to the Egyptian Red Crescent for Gaza. Psychological and social support teams, the Minister said, have been trained to help the expatriates crossing into Egypt to overcome trauma in the wake of the severe crises they underwent in Gaza. Those accompanying the wounded and injured who are moved to Egypt for medical care are also followed up in the hospitals of North Sinai, Ismailiya and Cairo, she said.
The Red Crescent, Mes Kabbag confirmed, also coordinates with international partner organisations in relief operations.
On 27 November, a French warship arrived at the port of al-Arish in Egypt to be used as a floating hospital for wounded Gazans who are moved into Egypt.
As Gaza hospitals have come under increased bombing by Israel, Egypt has been receiving wounded and critically ill Gazans for treatment in Egyptian hospitals. Among them were 28 premature Palestinian babies who were transported to Egypt on 20 November. According to Egypt’s Ministry of Health, 12 of these babies were moved by air ambulance to the state-of-the-art New Administrative Capital Hospital, on directives by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.
Hospitals in Arish and North Sinai received the other babies.
Watani International
28 November 2023