Monday, 25 May 2026
Egypt honors Red Crescent for leading humanitarian efforts in Gaza
The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigration, together with the Ministry of Social Solidarity, honored today the tireless humanitarian efforts of the Egyptian Red Crescent under the banner: “Egypt’s Response to the Humanitarian Catastrophe: Together to Keep Gaza Alive.”
The ceremony brought together Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigration, Dr. Maya Morsy, Minister of Social Solidarity, Dr. Amal Imam, Executive Director of the Egyptian Red Crescent, along with representatives from foreign embassies and international organizations based in Egypt.
The gathering focused on the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, highlighting Egypt’s critical role in providing urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinians facing acute shortages of food, medicine, and basic necessities. The Egyptian Red Crescent was recognized for its central coordination in delivering and distributing aid, despite the considerable challenges on the ground.
In his address, Foreign Minister Abdelatty emphasized Egypt’s pivotal role in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza since the onset of the conflict, noting Egypt has provided about 70% of total aid to the strip. He underlined that the Rafah border crossing has remained open from Egypt's side for the transfer of injured civilians, patients, and thousands of tons of emergency aid—until Israeli actions targeting the Palestinian side of the crossing forced Egypt to reroute supplies through the Kerem Shalom crossing, facing ongoing restrictions.
Minister Abdelatty called on the international community to intensify pressure on Israel to establish an immediate ceasefire and allow unrestricted humanitarian access, warning that the situation in Gaza amounts to a catastrophe and, by international standards, risks constituting acts of genocide due to engineered famine and a comprehensive blockade.
Reiterating Egypt's firm stance, the minister condemned efforts to forcibly displace Palestinians or undermine their cause and rejected the expansion of regional conflict through attacks on neighboring Arab states, referencing the recent military action against Qatar. He reaffirmed Egypt’s ongoing mediation to stop the bloodshed and called for a genuine political horizon that guarantees the two-state solution, with an independent Palestinian state along the pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.
Minister Abdelatty lauded the Egyptian Red Crescent and its more than 35,000 volunteers, alongside international partners including UN agencies and NGOs, for steadfastly delivering humanitarian aid despite severe logistical obstacles and risks to aid workers. He appealed for continued international donor support, not only for humanitarian relief but also for early recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Minister of Social Solidarity Dr. Maya Morsy expressed profound appreciation for the partnership and for hosting the ceremony at the Foreign Ministry, symbolizing Egypt’s unwavering humanitarian and regional commitment. She recalled Egypt's decades-long tradition of humanitarian solidarity with Palestinians, noting that since 1948, Egypt has mobilized to evacuate the wounded and deliver critical supplies in every crisis.
Dr. Morsy emphasized the Egyptian Red Crescent as the national body responsible for aid to Gaza, highlighting the scale of operations: over 570,000 tons of humanitarian aid delivered since October 7, 2023, and continuous logistical, medical, and psychological support, reflecting Egypt’s principle of transformative humanitarian action.
The event featured a presentation by Dr. Amal Imam on the magnitude and targeting of aid deliveries, along with a documentary spotlighting Egypt’s comprehensive aid effort to Gaza and testimonies from Palestinian beneficiaries, illustrating the vital impact of Egyptian and international support.
The evening concluded with a special tribute to Egyptian Red Crescent volunteers for their dedicated humanitarian work delivering aid to Gazans under extremely challenging conditions.
Egypt continues to reaffirm its commitment to humanitarian principles, multilateral cooperation, and a lasting peace for the Palestinian people.