5 March 2025, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The World Health Organization (WHO) in Egypt and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) have signed an agreement to support patients displaced by the war in Sudan and who are suffering from renal failure in Egypt. The agreement is valued at US$ 3.6 million and is expected to benefit more than 1000 individuals.
The agreement was signed by WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy and Assistant Supervisor General for Operations and Programmes at KSrelief Eng. Ahmed Al-Beiz on the sidelines of the Fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum.
The project aims to provide sustainable treatment for Sudanese kidney failure patients in Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan. It will be implemented in 3 phases: ensuring access to lifesaving health care services; mapping service providers in areas with high concentrations of Sudanese populations, and ensuring sustainable access to treatment.
WHO Representative in Egypt Dr Nima Abid said: “The war in Sudan has caused the world's largest displacement crisis, with Egypt receiving the highest number of displaced Sudanese people. Sudanese nationals have become the most prevalent among new arrivals. Egypt follows a no-camp policy and has a strong record of providing essential services to refugees on an equal footing with Egyptians, which places increasing pressure on local resources.”
“Amid escalating global crises, international solidarity and burden-sharing are more critical than ever. We, therefore, extend our gratitude to the Egyptian and Saudi governments for their cooperation in alleviating the suffering of those affected. We are deeply grateful for the generous support of KSrelief, which will enable WHO to continue assisting the Egyptian government in delivering lifesaving health services to the displaced Sudanese in Egypt who urgently need them.”
The agreement comes as part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s efforts, through KSrelief, to support international organizations in combating the spread of chronic diseases worldwide.
Director of the Medical and Environmental Aid Department at the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre His Excellency Dr Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Muallem said: "The signing of this agreement with WHO represents an important step in supporting our Sudanese brothers who are experiencing difficult circumstances in their homeland. We are working diligently to ensure they receive necessary health care during these critical times. We hope this initiative will contribute to improving renal failure conditions, ensuring follow-up treatment for Sudanese kidney transplant patients in Egypt, and alleviate their suffering."
