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Miles of Smiles sends humanitarian, medical aid to Gaza Strip

July 30, 2021 at 1:53 pm

Ambulance carrying medical aid to Gaza crosses the Rafah crossing into the southern Gaza Strip on June 19, 2011 [SAID KHATIB/AFP via Getty Images]

The Miles of Smiles convoy announced the arrival of humanitarian and medical aid to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing, while ambulances are expected to arrive within the next month after obtaining approval from Egyptian authorities.

Dr Essam Youssef, general coordinator of the convoy, said in a press statement yesterday that the convoy submitted a request to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry detailing the list of people who are supporting the convoy and urged the Egyptian authorities to approve the entry of these delegations at the appropriate time.

Youssef pointed out that the aid that has arrived includes medicines, medical equipment and assistive devices for persons with special needs, in addition to relief aid for poor families.

The convoy coordinator thanked the Egyptian authorities for allowing the delivery of aid and approving the entry of ambulances, noting that this has been transported in coordination with the Sons of Sinai Company and the Tahya Misr Fund.

Youssef said there are 25 fully equipped ambulances waiting to enter the Strip.

Youssef stressed the need to continue relief work to support the Gaza Strip, which suffers from high poverty and unemployment rates due to the occupation and the continuous Israeli siege which has been ongoing for 14 years, in addition to the significant shortage of medicines and medical supplies, and the state of exhaustion experienced by the medical sector as a result of the blockade, successive wars and the repercussions of the coronavirus.

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