Egypt boosts preparedness in hospitals in Aswan, neighboring governorates for evacuees from Sudan

CAIRO – 28 April 2023: Egypt has raised the state of preparedness in hospitals located in Aswan and other neighboring governorates for Egyptian and Sudanese people as well as nationals of other countries evacuated from Sudan.

In a statement on Friday, the Ministry of Health said its teams are also conducting examination for the nationals returning from Sudan to test them for infectious diseases.

The medical teams provide the tested individuals health monitoring cards in order for the ministry to be able to check on their health condition throughout the first two weeks of their stay in Egypt.

The ministry has moved 35 people to hospitals following the medical examinations. While 24 cases have left hospitals, 11 others are still receiving treatment, including two in the intensive care, the ministry added.

In Aswan and the border areas, the ministry has also taken strict measures to face rodents and disease vectors and has organized training sessions for the medical teams to spot infectious diseases, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates' Affairs Soha Gendy asserted the continuation of the evacuation plan to bring back citizens from Sudan in accordance with directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

A national committee was formed including all bodies and institutions concerned in the state to evacuate Egyptians in Sudan, she said.

As many as 23 evacuation flights were operated and that a total of 5,327 Egyptians were evacuated from conflict-stricken Sudan through air and land routes until Thursday evening, added Gendi in a statement Friday.

The ministry is keen on following upon the crisis around-the-clock, she said, adding that 10 aircraft evacuated the Egyptians from Wadi Seidna in a span of three days, in addition to planes that carried the Egyptians from Port Sudan and Dongola.

The minister thanked youths who are studying in Sudan for their roles in organizing evacuation efforts.

She called on Egyptian community members who want to return home to head for outlets and airports in coordination with the Egyptian consulate in Port Sudan and the Egyptian office in Wadi Halfa in preparation for being evacuated and transported to Egypt.

MENA contributed to the reporting.