Egypt Boosts Aid Delivery Preparations for Gaza via Rafah
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Synopsis
Egyptian authorities are ramping up efforts to deliver aid in North Sinai as they prepare for the reopening of the Rafah crossing, which connects Gaza to Egypt. Hundreds of aid trucks are poised to assist those affected by 15 months of conflict, following a new ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.
Key Takeaways
- Increased aid delivery efforts in North Sinai.
- Rafah crossing to reopen for humanitarian assistance.
- Over 500 aid trucks expected to enter Gaza.
- Blood donation campaigns and medical readiness in Sinai hospitals.
- International cooperation for ceasefire implementation.
Arish, Jan 18 (NationPress) Egyptian authorities are stepping up their efforts to facilitate the delivery of aid in the North Sinai province, which borders Gaza, in anticipation of the reopening of the Rafah crossing, the sole link between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
In the Egyptian city of Arish, located near the Rafah crossing, numerous aid truck drivers are waiting for the signal to deliver supplies to the besieged region that has endured over 15 months of hardship, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The long-anticipated truce agreement between Hamas and Israel, reached in Doha on Wednesday, is set to take effect on Sunday.
Xinhua correspondents in Arish observed trucks filled with essentials such as food, clothing, medical supplies, tents, mobile toilets, and other relief items queuing in various cities across North Sinai, particularly Arish, Sheikh Zuweid, and Rafah, with some trucks having waited for several months.
Ahmad Adel, a truck driver, expressed his hope to cross into the Palestinian side of the border to assist the people of Gaza, stating, "It was a moment of joy for all drivers when we learned about the agreement."
A security source indicated that approximately 500 aid trucks will cross into Gaza through the Rafah crossing and the Israeli Karm Abu Salem border crossing, noting that Egyptian authorities have established multiple logistics centers.
A blood donation campaign has been initiated in anticipation of injured Palestinians, with the medical sector on high alert in all Sinai hospitals, according to a medical source.
Hospitals in Arish, Sheikh Zuweid, and Rafah are well-equipped, and medical teams in 100 ambulances have been dispatched to the Rafah crossing to receive the injured, the source added.
Meanwhile, a security source told Xinhua that the Egyptian side has prepared heavy machinery to clear roads and pathways on the Palestinian side to facilitate the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid.
A representative from the Egyptian Red Crescent stated that over 1,000 relief aid trucks are currently ready to pass through the Rafah crossing.
Teams from the Egyptian Red Crescent in North Sinai are organized into units to provide psychological support, assist in transferring the wounded from the crossing to hospitals, and prepare food and medical aid.
Egyptian Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar convened a meeting on Friday to assess hospital capacities. He instructed an increase in the number of medical personnel in intensive care units across North Sinai, as per ministry statements.
Earlier, delegations from Egypt, Qatar, the US, and Israel convened in Cairo to establish mechanisms for implementing the ceasefire agreement, as reported by Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV channel.
The mechanisms will include reopening the Rafah crossing for transporting wounded Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and delivering humanitarian aid, according to the report.
The World Health Organization has indicated that as the ceasefire takes effect, more countries should step up to receive additional patients for specialized care. Over 12,000 individuals are awaiting medical evacuation from Gaza, where the health infrastructure has been devastated by more than 15 months of conflict.
