Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi (pictured) announced on April 21 that his government will grant medical assistance to the US to fight the covid-19 pandemic.

The aid, which will be transported by military aircraft, will consist mainly of medical equipment, anesthetic drugs, antibiotics, body bags, masks and screening kits.
According to Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, this action “falls within the framework of the distinguished relations between Egypt and the United States as well as the interest of the Egyptian State in supporting friendly countries in the face of the covid-19 pandemic.”

The United States has thus joined the developed countries that have received medical aid from the third largest African economy (in terms of nominal GDP) since the outbreak started. In February 2020, Egypt sent 1 million medical masks to Italy. The Minister of Health, Hala Zayed, then flew to Beijing, China, to deliver 10 tons of medical equipment.

On April 4, on the instructions of President al-Sissi, the Egyptian armed forces sent two military jets to Italy carrying medical equipment, protective clothing, detergents and disinfectants. On April 14, Egypt sent medical gowns to the United Kingdom to assist the British government in its fight against the spread of the new coronavirus.

Borgia Kobri