In these desperate times where every single country is faced with the challenge of COVID-19, an international support system is crucial. True that global politics may not always be in favor of countries helping one another, but when it comes to the current health pandemic, humanity needs to come first.
Egypt has been an active participant in helping the international community. Yesterday, President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi sent medical aid to the United States. The Egyptian medical aid jet had necessary medical equipment, anesthesia drugs, antibiotics, body bags, masks and testing swabs, according to Egypt Today Magazine.
As countries collaborate in supporting one another during times of crises, this serves as a way to improve and strengthen relations.
The United States has 820,273 cases of COVID-19 with 45,430 recorded deaths and 83,068 recorded recoveries. Various media outlets reported that this number will continue rising. And unfortunately, as cases increase, a dire need for medical supplies increases too.
A report by UN News said that people in poverty are those most threatened by the virus in the US because they live in “crowded and insecure housing, reside in neighborhoods that are more vulnerable because of air pollution, and lack access to healthcare”.
بالنيابة عن الشعب الأمريكي والحكومة الأمريكية والسفارة الأمريكية بالقاهرة، السفير الأمريكي جوناثان كوهين يتقدم بالشكر للحكومة المصرية والشعب المصري على إسهامهم الكريم بالإمدادات الطبية التي ستساعدنا في مواجهة أزمة جائحة COVID-19.🇪🇬🇺🇸On behalf of the American people, the U.S. government, and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Ambassador Jonathan Cohen thanks the government and people of Egypt for their generous contribution of medical supplies which will help us confront the COVID-19 crisis. 🇺🇸🇪🇬
Posted by U.S. Embassy Cairo on Tuesday, April 21, 2020
The US Ambassador to Egypt released a video thanking the Egyptian government and people for the contribution. He said “in these difficult times, a generous donation like the one you’ve [Egypt] just made is a great symbol of our solidarity and the value you [Egypt] place in our strategic partnership”.
A Timeline of Previous Cases During The Crisis
This is not the first time Egypt was on a mission to help during COVID-19. Egypt also sent medical aid to Italy, the country that struggled the most as the outbreak was escalating. At the time on April 4, Egypt flew two military jets with medical equipment, protective suits, detergents and sanitizers.
Interestingly, Egypt’s Health Minister, Hala Zayed also arrived in Italy with the equipment as a symbol to emphasize the need for global cooperation.
Gli aiuti medici che stanno arrivando in questi giorni dall’estero sono fondamentali per sostenere i nostri ospedali….
Posted by Luigi Di Maio on Saturday, April 4, 2020
Egyptian Presidency Spokesman Bassam Rady told Ahram that “this comes in line with the historical ties between the two friendly countries, contributing in easing the burden on Italy in its current plight especially amid a severe shortage in medical supplies…as death and infections continue to rise.”
In February Egypt also sent 10 tons of preventive medical items and equipment to China, as per the Ministry of Health. As Italy, Zayed also arrived in Beijing at a critical time. The plane that carried equipment to China returned to Egypt with Egyptians who wanted to return. Currently, China has also been sending Egypt supplies to get through the crisis.
Moreover, Egypt has sent the UK medical gowns to British help doctors and nurses stay safe and treat patients without transmitting viruses.
The National wrote that, “the gowns, designed to resist droplets that can cause the virus to spread, will help with British medics’ urgent need for personal protective equipment”. From the beginning of the outbreak, the UK had been suffering due to lack of equipment for medical staff and when the gown shipment arrived, UK Trade Minister Greg Hands thanked Egypt for its support.
Good PPE news – after a number of calls with the Egyptian Ambassador & lots of engagement by @GeoffreyDAdams and @UKinEgypt & @tradegovuk teams, a large number of medical gowns are on their way to the U.K. – thank you, Egypt! pic.twitter.com/f7YN6UcxAn
— Greg Hands #StayHomeSaveLives (@GregHands) April 13, 2020
Hands was the one who reached out to the British ambassador to Egypt to request the gowns as a way to help medical staff combat COVID-19.
A huge portion of being able to overcome the health pandemic is working together internationally when it comes to research, vaccines, treatment and sharing resources. As the World Health Organization repeatedly expressed, unity is crucial.
