Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population has signed a $3.38 million cooperation agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Japan to launch a project aimed at strengthening emergency medical services, according to a statement released by the ministry.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Ambassador to Egypt Fumio Iwai, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt Elena Panova, and WHO Representative to Egypt Nima Abid.
Abdel Ghaffar said Egypt was among the first to respond to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and is hosting Palestinians in need of medical care, including thousands of patients requiring complex interventions and delicate surgeries.
He added that since the crisis began, Egypt has provided more than 90,000 comprehensive health examinations through the Rafah land crossing.
He explained that the project is built around three main pillars. These include securing critical equipment and medical supplies for hospitals involved in emergency response plans, training medical teams in critical care protocols, and strengthening the readiness of hospitals in border provinces to provide quality medical services to injured and displaced people.
He expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan and the WHO, noting that this partnership reflects a “shared international responsibility” and calls for sustained international support, especially given that Egypt continues to bear the financial and logistical burden of providing free medical care to the Palestinian people.
Furthermore, Abdel Ghaffar said that Egypt’s health system has mobilized extensive resources since the beginning of the crisis, including equipping 170 hospitals in 24 governorates, allocating more than 13,000 inpatient beds and nearly 2,000 intensive care beds, and deploying approximately 63,000 health workers, including doctors and nurses.
He also reaffirmed that Egypt remains a safe haven in the region and a key supporter of humanitarian causes, and called on the international community to follow Japan’s example and provide host countries with technical and material support to protect the stability of health systems during regional crises.
Mr. Abed praised Egypt’s solidarity efforts and said the agreement reflected a shared commitment to the values of solidarity and partnership.
He added that Japan was one of the first partners to respond to the urgent humanitarian appeal.
Ambassador Iwai also praised Egypt’s role in providing medical care to Palestinians and other vulnerable populations, noting that this assistance comes at a critical time with the resumption of medical evacuations through the Rafah border.
He added that the agreement expands the scope of beneficiaries to include Palestinian and Sudanese patients.
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