- The UK announces £1 million of assistance to Egyptian health authority to support medically evacuated Palestinians from Gaza.
- New UK-Egypt Memorandum of Understanding on food security signed, signalling the UK's support for Egypt's leading role in food production in the region.
- Minister calls for urgent de-escalation and a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon in his first visit to the Middle East, with visit to Al Arish border crossing.
Providing humanitarian support for civilians affected by the current conflict was the focus of the Minister for the Middle East's, Hamish Falconer, first official visit to the region this week.
Announcing a new package of support to assist civilians medically evacuated from Gaza to Egypt, the Minister pledged £1 million of UK assistance to the Egyptian Ministry of Health that will support medically evacuated civilians from Gaza who are receiving care in Egypt.
Delivered through the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Egypt, the funding will provide vital medical supplies and medications, including chemotherapy and rehabilitative equipment, to those in need. It will also strengthen capacity to care for patients from Gaza with chronic diseases.
Minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer said:
"As a key regional partner, Egypt plays a central role alongside the UK in working for stability and security across the Middle East and driving forward de-escalation efforts in both Gaza and Lebanon.
"The worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to bring devastation to many lives, with many requiring life-saving support over the border in Egypt. That's why, alongside our Egyptian partners, we are funding life-saving treatments and support for medically evacuated civilians from Gaza.
"At Al Arish, I saw that many tonnes of lifesaving aid continue to be denied entry into Gaza by Israel. As winter approaches, Israel can and must do more to ensure aid flows freely into Gaza and to facilitate the UN and humanitarian agencies to carry out their work safely.
"I signed a new UK-Egypt Memorandum of Understanding on sustainable food security, launching a new partnership between our two countries to tackle a critical global challenge."
The announcement came during the Minister's visit to Al-Arish, where he met with the North Sinai Governor to discuss aid flows into Gaza. Here, the Minister visited the Egyptian Red Crescent's warehouse and Al-Arish General Hospital to see how UK funding to WHO Egypt will be used.
The Minister also met with Egypt's Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty where he thanked Egypt for its ongoing role in getting aid into Gaza and agreed the need to continue working together for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon. Minister Falconer also raised the consular case of Alaa Abd El-Fattah and called for quick progress on his release.
As Egypt is a regional leader in ensuring sustainable food security for the Middle East and Africa, the Minister also agreed a landmark UK-Egypt Memorandum of Understanding on Food Security with Rania Al Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation and Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture. The agreement includes technical assistance to advance sustainable agribusiness practice and increase crop yield in Egypt.
Speaking on today's funding announcement, World Health Organisation Representative to Egypt Dr Nima Abid said:
"WHO values its long-standing partnership with the British government, and we are deeply grateful for this generous contribution from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
"This support will enable WHO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Population, to deliver critical supplies to Egyptian hospitals and equip healthcare workers to meet the urgent needs of medical evacuees from Gaza. I would also like to express my appreciation for the government of Egypt for its vital role in treating patients from Gaza and in facilitating their safe evacuation to other countries as well."
The UK continues to play a leading role in alleviating the suffering in Gaza and continues to provide significant funding to partners to support those most in need. The UK has already provided 78,000 shelter items, 76,000 wound care kits, and 1.3 million items of medicine.
The UK trebled its aid commitment to the OPTs in the last financial year and this Government will maintain significant funding this financial year to support trusted aid
agencies on the ground.
The UK continues to call for an immediate ceasefire on all fronts and continues to push for urgent aid to enter Gaza and reach those most in need.
Background
- The FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to the Egyptian desert west and south of the oases of Fayoum, Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla and Kharga, except for:
- The coastal areas between the Nile Delta and Marsa Matruh
- The Marsa Matruh-Siwa road
- The oasis town of Siwa
