Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, led the inaugural ministerial meeting of the Executive Committee for receiving Palestinian casualties, which included key officials from various ministries. The meeting focused on strategic coordination to provide medical support for those injured in the Gaza Strip, in line with directives from the political leadership.
Attendees included Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Eng. Sherif El Sherbiny, Minister of Housing and Urban Utilities; Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development; and Dr. Maya Morsi, Minister of Social Solidarity.
The committee’s primary goal is to devise actionable plans for coordination between ministries, sectors, and agencies, ensuring the efficient delivery of medical care to injured Palestinians. Dr. Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, emphasized the necessity of coordinating medical personnel, particularly in critical care specialties, and streamlining decision-making processes to expedite response times.
A key point of discussion was the role of the Crisis Committee, which convenes regularly at Al-Arish General Hospital to manage the reception of casualties. Coordination efforts include the assignment of ministry representatives and the establishment of a dedicated contact person for each governorate involved in the initiative.
The meeting also covered logistical preparations for sorting, transferring, and receiving the injured, with heightened readiness at hospitals across the Canal cities. A specialized committee, comprising experts from the Ministry of Health and academia, will prioritize patient transfers based on medical need, in constant communication with provincial authorities.
Further discussions included the mobilization of civil society and NGOs to assist with the families of the injured, with the Egyptian Red Crescent playing a key role in providing logistical support. The committee’s efforts aim to ensure a seamless, coordinated response to the medical needs arising from the ongoing crisis.
The meeting was attended by several senior health officials and key figures from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Egyptian Red Crescent, and the Ministry of Social Solidarity, underscoring the collaborative approach to tackling this critical humanitarian issue.
In related news, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the evacuation of 37 patients from Gaza via the Rafah border crossing, most of whom are Palestinian children, for treatment in Egyptian hospitals. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday that, “With support from WHO and our partners, 37 patients, including 34 children and 3 adults, accompanied by 39 escorts, crossed today from Gaza through Rafah to continue their treatment in Egypt
