Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar assured that his ministry is ready to provide health support inside Gaza the moment safe passage is available.
During a press conference on the sidelines of his visit to North Sinai Governorate, Abdel-Ghaffar said that Egypt is prepared to receive any wounded Palestinians through 150 ambulances stationed in various regions of North Sinai.
He indicated the possibility of doubling this number from the main center in Cairo within hours.
The maximum level of readiness has been raised in hospitals in North Sinai and neighboring governorates in preparation for any emergency due to the Gaza crisis, he added.
Injuries expected to arrive for treatment in Egyptian hospitals include fractures, burns, brain and nerve damage, and minor surgeries.
He confirmed the readiness of medical teams, rapid deployment teams, North Sinai hospitals, and hospitals in Port Said, Suez, Ismailia, Damietta, Cairo, and Sharqiya, through an integrated plan.
Abdel-Ghaffar said that the state and civil society institutions provided 311 tons of medical aid and 1,000 tons of aid from the National Alliance for Civil Development Work.
The Minister added that the Ambulance Authority has developed a plan for any developments that may occur due to the violence in the Gaza Strip, announcing the provision of medicines, medical supplies, oxygen cylinders, and blood bags, doctors and specialized medical personnel to deal with any emergency cases.
Abdel-Ghaffar held a video conference with the ministry’s undersecretaries and heads of crisis rooms in the governorates of Cairo, Giza, North Sinai, Suez, Ismailia, Port Said, Damietta, and Sharqia.
Egypt at high alert
The meeting came to carry out orders by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made during the National Security Council meeting, to follow up on the health system’s preparations to deal with any medical emergency after the repercussions of the events in the Gaza Strip.
The National Security Council meeting ordered to raise the readiness of hospitals in all concerned governorates and provide supplies, medicines and blood bags.
North Sinai Governor Mohamed Abdel-Fadil Shusha confirmed that the level of readiness in the governorate’s hospitals had been raised since the beginning of the current crisis.
The governor added that the governorate’s hospitals have been supported with medical personnel, medicines, and medical supplies, noting that the breaks of doctors and nurses have been halted, in addition to raising the level of readiness in the ambulance sector.
