28 October 2024, Cairo, Egypt – WHO Egypt and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office signed a £1 million agreement to respond to the health needs of people evacuated from the Gaza Strip for treatment in Egypt.
Through the partnership, which will extend from 2024 to 2025, WHO will support the Ministry of Health and Population and health partners provide quality health services for patients from Gaza.
WHO will work to enhance the readiness of the health system to receive patients by ensuring the availability of necessary medical equipment, medical supplies and medications, including chemotherapy, and enhance the capacity of health care providers to manage chronic diseases and provide psychosocial support.
The launch of the project was announced during a visit by a delegation from the Ministry of Health and Population, WHO Egypt and the British government to the city of Al-Arish. The delegation was led by Assistant Minister of Health for International Relations Dr Hatem Amer, WHO Egypt’s Emergency Team Lead Dr Omar Abu Al-Atta and the UK Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Hamish Falconer.
The delegation met with the Governor of North Sinai Major General Khaled Mujawar and was provided with an overview of the situation in Al-Arish, and visited Al-Arish General Hospital, Egyptian Red Crescent warehouses and the humanitarian services point, established by WHO and the Red Crescent, which provides referral services and basic needs for patients and their families.
“WHO values its long-standing partnership with the British Government and we are deeply grateful for this generous contribution from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. This support will enable WHO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population, to deliver critical supplies to Egyptian hospitals and equip health care workers to meet the urgent needs of medical evacuees from Gaza. I would also like to express my appreciation to the Government of Egypt for its vital role in treating patients from Gaza and facilitating their safe evacuation to other countries,” said WHO Representative to Egypt Dr Nima Abid.
“The worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to bring devastation to many lives, with many requiring lifesaving support over the border, here in Egypt,” said UK Minister for the Middle East and North Africa Hamish Falconer.
“That’s why, alongside our Egyptian partners, today’s funding will provide lifesaving treatments and support for medically evacuated civilians from Gaza. As winter approaches, the need to allow much more aid to flow freely into Gaza is growing increasingly urgent and the UK and Egypt reiterate their calls to enable the UN and humanitarian agencies to deliver on the ground.”
Since Egypt started receiving patients from Gaza last November, WHO has worked to support Egypt's efforts to meet their health needs. Since the beginning of the crisis, WHO Egypt has provided medical supplies to Egyptian hospitals worth US$ 2 140 000, including intensive care unit beds, mechanical heart valves, bloodlines for dialysis machines, orthopedic surgery supplies and anaesthesia medications. With support from the Government of Japan, WHO Egypt has also trained around 900 health workers in various fields to provide lifesaving emergency health care services.
