In a press conference held by the ERC on Saturday, Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine El-Qabbaj said the aid includes medical supplies and personal protective equipment.
“Providing the grant to support the efforts of the Egyptian Red Crescent towards the Sudanese crisis reflects the appreciation and trust that the international community has given to the Egyptian Red Crescent,” El-Qabbaj said.
The ERC has demonstrated its capability through its urgent and impactful interventions inside and outside of Egypt, she added.
El-Qabbaj explained that the ministry has a budget for local and international relief efforts worth around EGP 150 million (over $4.8 million), without specifying how much has been allocated for those fleeing Sudan.
Attending the press conference, Head of the European Union Delegation to Egypt Christian Berger explained that the EU and its member states are committed to supporting Egypt and Sudan in these difficult times.
“We are working with our partners to assist Egypt in its efforts to ensure the basic social and healthcare needs of Sudanese refugees are met,” the ministry cited Berger as saying.
The EU has also provided 200,000 euros to the ERC to aid those coming from Sudan to Egypt, Berger added.
Since the start of the armed conflict in Sudan in mid-April, 120,000 people have fled to neighbouring states due to the fighting, including 98,000 who fled to Egypt, said the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ digital service ReliefWeb on Thursday.
“Our first goal will be to strengthen the capacities of the government and the relevant local authorities to provide vital basic services to those affected,” Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP resident representative in Egypt said during the press conference.
The UNDP representative also vowed to work hand in hand with the Egyptian government, humanitarian aid workers, civil society organisations and other UN agencies to create a development-oriented approach regarding both immediate and long-term response efforts.
The Egyptian Red Crescent has provided thousands of services through its relief centres to those fleeing war in Sudan through the Arqeen and Qustul border crossings, according to earlier remarks by the social solidarity ministry.
