WHO, UK Sign £1M Agreement to Support Gaza Patients in Egypt

The World Health Organization (WHO) in Egypt, in collaboration with the British government through the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, has formalized a £1 million agreement aimed at addressing the health requirements of individuals evacuated from the Gaza Strip for treatment in Egypt.

This partnership is set to span from 2024 to 2025, during which WHO will assist the Ministry of Health and Population, along with other health partners, in delivering high-quality healthcare to patients and those injured from the Gaza Strip.

The organization will focus on enhancing the health system's capacity to manage incoming patients through two primary strategies: supplying medical and surgical equipment, as well as medications, including chemotherapy drugs, to Egyptian hospitals. 

Additionally, it will provide training for medical personnel and health workers to effectively handle emergencies, trauma cases, and patients with non-communicable diseases, while also offering psychosocial support.

The project was officially announced during a visit by a delegation from the Ministry of Health and Population, the WHO office in Egypt, and representatives from the British government to the city of Arish. 

The delegation was led by Dr. Hatem Amer, Assistant Minister of Health for International Relations, Dr. Omar Abu El-Atta, Director of the Emergency Team at the WHO Egypt Office, and Hamish Faulkner, UK Minister for the Middle East and North Africa.

During the visit, the delegation met with Dr. Khaled Megawer, the Governor of North Sinai, to discuss the overall situation in the governorate, which serves as a key hub for receiving patients and managing the storage and distribution of humanitarian aid to the region. 

The delegation also toured Al-Arish General Hospital, as well as the Egyptian Red Crescent warehouses and the humanitarian services point established by both the organization and the Red Crescent, which provides referral services and essential support for patients and their families.

In his remarks, Minister for MENA Hamish Falconer said: "As a key regional partner, Egypt plays a central role alongside the UK in working for stability and security across the MENA and driving forward de-escalation efforts in both Gaza and Lebanon.

He continued: "The worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to bring devastation to many lives, with many requiring life-saving support over the border in Egypt. That’s why, alongside our Egyptian partners, we are funding life-saving treatments and support for medically evacuated civilians from Gaza. At Al Arish, I saw that many tonnes of lifesaving aid continue to be denied entry into Gaza by Israel. As winter approaches, Israel can and must do more to ensure aid flows freely into Gaza and to facilitate the UN and humanitarian agencies to carry out their work safely."