Rafah: A total of 1,500 volunteers from the Egyptian Red Crescent have been deployed in Arish and Rafah to provide psychological and on-site support to injured Palestinians arriving from the Gaza Strip following the end of hostilities. This initiative is being conducted in coordination with the Palestinian Red Crescent, as announced by Maya Morsy, Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity and Vice President of the Egyptian Red Crescent.
According to State Information Service Egypt, during a visit to the Rafah border crossing and several hospitals in North Sinai, Minister Morsy, alongside Minister of Health Dr. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, underscored Egypt’s preparedness to commence operations related to the Gaza ceasefire once it officially takes effect. The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, January 19, 2025.
Morsy highlighted that the Egyptian Red Crescent is the primary coordinating entity with international organizations and the Palestinian Red Crescent, tasked with managing aid collection and distribution within Egypt and from abroad. This collaboration aims to ensure swift and effective humanitarian assistance delivery to Gaza residents.
Expressing confidence in the readiness of humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, Morsy emphasized the ongoing efforts to accelerate aid delivery in line with directives from Egypt’s political leadership. She stressed the importance of expediting aid distribution to ensure timely assistance to those in need.
The Minister of Social Solidarity revealed that Red Crescent warehouses are well-stocked with humanitarian aid, with trucks poised to deploy as soon as clearance is given. The immediate focus, she stated, is on intensifying aid efforts to reach as many beneficiaries as possible.
Morsy also noted that the aid types, including food, medical supplies, and fuel, are meticulously selected to address the specific needs of Gaza’s population, thereby maximizing the assistance’s impact.
Dr. Morsy further elaborated on the collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Ministry of Health, and the Egyptian Red Crescent in preparing facilities for incoming patients and the injured. Psychological support is being offered by volunteers, and coordination with international organizations is ongoing to ensure structured and effective aid entry into Gaza, covering all essential requirements.
Moreover, Minister of Health Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar confirmed Egypt’s readiness to supply vaccines against polio, measles, German measles (Rubella), and mumps for Palestinian children arriving from Gaza. The Health Minister also announced Egypt’s readiness to receive and treat wounded Palestinians post-war.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health, prepared to deploy medical teams if needed within Gaza, has a comprehensive map of health work sites in the Strip. Additionally, the Egyptian Doctors Syndicate, led by Osama Abdel-Hay, has opened registration for doctors willing to volunteer in treating the injured from the Israeli attacks.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported on Saturday that three new massacres by Israel increased the death toll to 46,899 just hours before the ceasefire deal’s commencement. The conflict has resulted in 110,725 injuries among Palestinians since the war’s onset. The Ministry previously stated that 4,500 Palestinians, including about 800 children and 540 women, have suffered limb amputations since the conflict began.