WHO, King Salman Humanitarian Aid Center Ink Agreement to Support Sudanese Kidney Failure Patients in Egypt

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have inked a joint cooperation agreement to support Sudanese kidney failure patients who have fled to Egypt due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The agreement, valued at $3.618 million, is expected to benefit more than 1,000 individuals. The signing took place on the sidelines of the Fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum.

The agreement was inked by Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, and Engineer Ahmed Al-Beez, Assistant Supervisor General for Operations and Programs at KSrelief.

The initiative aims to ensure continuous treatment for Sudanese kidney failure patients in Egyptian cities, including Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Luxor, and Aswan. It will be implemented in three phases: providing life-saving healthcare services, mapping service providers in areas with high concentrations of Sudanese refugees, and ensuring sustainable access to treatment.

Dr. Nima Abed, WHO Representative in Egypt, emphasized the urgency of international solidarity in addressing the crisis. "The war in Sudan has caused the world's largest displacement crisis, with Egypt hosting the highest number of Sudanese refugees. Egypt maintains a policy of not establishing refugee camps and has a strong record of providing essential services to refugees on an equal footing with Egyptian citizens. This places increasing pressure on local resources," she said. 

Abed continued: "Given the growing global crises, international cooperation and burden-sharing are more critical than ever. We extend our gratitude to the Egyptian and Saudi governments for their collaboration and deeply appreciate KSrelief’s generous support, which will enable WHO to continue assisting the Egyptian government in providing life-saving healthcare services to Sudanese refugees in Egypt."

In turn, Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Muallem, Director of Medical and Environmental Aid at KSrelief, highlighted the importance of the initiative, saying, "This agreement with WHO marks a significant step in supporting our Sudanese brothers and sisters who are enduring harsh conditions due to the crisis in their homeland. We are working tirelessly to ensure they receive the necessary healthcare during these challenging times. We hope this initiative will help improve kidney failure treatment, support Sudanese kidney transplant patients in Egypt, and alleviate their suffering."

It's worth mentioning that this agreement is part of Saudi Arabia's broader efforts, through KSrelief, to support international organizations in combating chronic diseases worldwide.