Standing at the Rafah border crossing on World Humanitarian Day, Egypt’s Minister of Social Solidarity, Dr. Maya Morsy, issued a heartfelt humanitarian appeal for the immediate entry of all Egyptian aid currently held at the crossing. The aid, stored for days under the supervision of the Egyptian Red Crescent, is intended for the war-torn Gaza Strip.
Dr. Morsy’s call to action came during a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Palestinian Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, and senior Palestinian and Egyptian officials, including North Sinai Governor Major General Khaled Megahed and Dr. Amal Imam, Executive Director of the Egyptian Red Crescent.
“In nearly 670 consecutive days since October 7, 2023, Egypt has never wavered in fulfilling its national and humanitarian duty toward Gaza—despite the extraordinary challenges,” said Dr. Morsy. “We are here today not just to mark a date on the calendar, but to reaffirm our responsibility. Real celebration of this day means easing the suffering of our brothers and sisters in Gaza.”
She emphasized Egypt’s unwavering commitment, under the leadership of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, to the Palestinian cause—calling it a “core issue that lives in the heart of every Egyptian.” Aid to Gaza, she stressed, has never been a reactive measure, but a long-standing national policy rooted in solidarity and responsibility.
Massive Relief Efforts: From Air Drops to Field Hospitals
Since the start of the current crisis, Egypt has coordinated the delivery of over 550,000 tons of humanitarian aid to Gaza—75% of it food supplies, and the remaining 25% consisting of medical equipment, medicines, shelter materials, and essential relief items. This includes 32,000 air drops of food parcels across the besieged strip.
The Egyptian Red Crescent, designated as the official national body for coordinating humanitarian aid, has led an unprecedented logistical operation. Egypt established temporary customs warehouses in Arish, developed an advanced electronic cargo tracking system, and transformed El-Arish International Airport into a global hub for aid arriving from Europe, the United States, Arab states, and beyond.
Dr. Morsy also detailed collaborative efforts such as the establishment of four field hospitals—in coordination with the Kuwaiti and Palestinian Red Crescents—and the entry of 209 ambulances into Gaza. Notably, Egypt has facilitated the storage and transfer of 10 million liters of fuel through aid from Iraq.
In a unique initiative, the Egyptian Red Crescent launched the “Humanitarian Kitchen” project, delivering more than 2 million cooked meals, 1 million hot meals, and 750,000 dry rations. Shelters established in Khan Younis have housed over 10,000 displaced Gazans.
Operation ZAD AL-EZZA: Egypt’s Food Convoys to Gaza
Dr. Morsy highlighted the launch of the “Zad Al-Ezza” (Provision of Dignity) aid convoys, initiated in July 2025. As of August 17, the campaign has delivered 16 convoys, totaling 17,000 tons of aid, including 752,000 food baskets, daily bread production of 30,000 loaves via an automated bakery in Sheikh Zuweid, and 4,400 tons of flour. Aid continues to arrive through land, air, and sea routes in coordination with international partners.
Egypt has also taken in thousands of injured and ill Palestinians for treatment, providing full medical support, accommodation, and care for over 6,300 accompanying relatives.
“These numbers are more than statistics,” Dr. Morsy said. “They are evidence of the genuine and ongoing solidarity that Egypt offers Gaza—not just with words, but through the tireless work of over 35,000 Egyptian volunteers who labor day and night to ensure every aid parcel reaches where it’s needed most.”
Dr. Morsy concluded her remarks with a hopeful plea for a ceasefire, stating that the true scale of assistance could only grow once conditions permit smoother access to the devastated enclave.
