The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, several other Egyptian ministries, and the Egyptian Red Crescent, announced the launch of an initiative to provide urgent support to over 100,000 of the most needy children, their caregivers, and medically evacuated patients in Egypt.
This initiative, supported by a €5.4 million grant from the European Union, aims to enhance basic services in the host communities in North Sinai and the neighboring areas. According to UNICEF, since the onset of the current conflict in Gaza, Egypt has played a crucial role in providing medical care and humanitarian aid with support from numerous partners including UNICEF.
Working in collaboration with the Egyptian government in North Sinai, UNICEF is ensuring the continuity of essential services, in line with our commitment to support the rights of every child in Egypt. This EU-funded support will ensure comprehensive humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian children who have been medically evacuated, their caregivers, and their host communities in Egypt.
The assistance will cover urgent needs in North Sinai and the neighboring provinces, focusing on improving access to basic health and nutritional services, ensuring the continuity of quality education, providing psychological and social support, integrated social care, and maintaining the availability of safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene services. Additionally, the initiative will enhance the capabilities of health and social care workers and support the health system’s capacity to respond to future crises by improving secondary and advanced healthcare services.
Jeremy Hopkins, UNICEF Representative in Egypt, stated, “Our commitment through this initiative is not only to provide urgent aid to the most needy children but also to build resilience and sustainability in the face of ongoing challenges. We value our partnership with the European Union, the Egyptian government, and the Egyptian Red Crescent, ensuring that essential and vital services reach every child, reaffirming our commitment to leave no child behind during these critical times.”
Joseph Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, said: “Alleviating the suffering of civilians in Gaza is a top priority for us, especially when it concerns children. The European Union and its member states are the largest donors of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. Through this grant, we continue to support UNICEF, which will work in cooperation with the Egyptian authorities to relieve over 100,000 of the most needy children. The situation in Gaza is a true tragedy, and the suffering of the civilians will not stop until a ceasefire is reached through ongoing negotiations.”
