Zaqy explores further humanitarian support for Gaza during Egypt visit

SINGAPORE - Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad explored areas for further collaboration between Singapore and Egypt, particularly in medical assistance, to support the humanitarian efforts for Gaza, during a working trip to Cairo.

While in the Egyptian capital on Feb 15 and 16, he met the Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister for Human Development Affairs and Minister of Health and Population, Dr Khaled Abdelghaffar; and Egyptian Assistant Minister of Defence for Foreign Affairs, General Walaa Adel Bibers.

Mr Zaqy thanked Egypt for supporting Singapore’s efforts to provide relief to Gaza.

These include the earlier deployment of a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft that delivered humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the deployment of a medical team aboard the French hospital ship FS Dixmude to treat casualties from Gaza at Egypt’s El-Arish Port.

During the visit, Mr Zaqy also discussed the regional security situation with Egypt’s leaders.

In a statement, Singapore’s Ministry of Defence said Mr Zaqy’s visit to Egypt underscores the warm and friendly relations between the two countries.

Mr Zaqy also met separately with the acting chief executive of the Egyptian Red Crescent, Dr Amal Emam, and the general director of the New Administrative Capital Insurance Hospital, Dr Ramzy Monir Abdelazim Mostafa.

At the Egyptian Red Crescent’s operations centre, he was briefed on its medical assistance and humanitarian efforts for Gaza and the challenges of operating in Gaza. Mr Zaqy also extended Singapore’s gratitude for the organisation’s facilitation of Singapore’s delivery of humanitarian aid in November 2023.

He also held discussions on how Singapore could collaborate with the Egyptian Red Crescent to provide further humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

At the hospital, Mr Zaqy interacted with patients from Gaza who were being treated for injuries they sustained during the conflict, and learnt about how hospitals in Egypt treat and care for patients from Gaza.

Mr Zaqy visited Egypt days after going to Jordan for the delivery of nine tonnes of humanitarian aid for Gaza, which was flown to Amman on Feb 12 on board an RSAF MRTT.

The relief package – Singapore’s seventh tranche of assistance to Gaza – comprises medical, food and hygiene supplies from the Ministry of Health and non-governmental organisation partners Relief SG, Mercy Relief and Caritas Humanitarian Aid & Relief Initiatives Singapore.

While in Jordan, Mr Zaqy also

explored ways for Singapore and Jordan

to coordinate further humanitarian efforts for Gaza.