Police, army distribute food cartons to needy people

CAIRO – 17 May 2018: The armed forces coordinated with the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade to provide needy Egyptian citizens in various governorates with 2.7 million food cartons with low prices.

The army’s initiative, which started Wednesday night, comes as part of the state’s keenness to provide citizens with the food commodities they need for the holy month of Ramadan.

Egyptian Defense Minister, Sedki Sobhi, ordered the public services of the Armed Forces to distribute the cartons to the neediest people, especially those in remote areas at lower prices.

A number of 1.7 million cartons were provided by the Armed Forces, while 1 million cartons were provided by the Ministry of Internal Trade.

Moreover, the Interior Ministry has distributed a number of food cartons to needy people for free. The cartons included commodities such as rice, macaroni and oil.


The Interior Ministry distributes a number of food cartons to needy people for free – press photo


The Interior Ministry distributes a number of food cartons to needy people for free – press photo


The Interior Ministry distributes a number of food cartons to needy people for free – press photo

Out of a sense of duty, the ministries of interior and defense, in addition to other ministries, have significantly stood by citizens in the times of crises and religious occasions, especially in the last few years.

“Ramadan packages”

In a press conference in April, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Moselhi said that the ministries of endowments and religious affairs, petroleum and tourism will provide poor families with one million food cartons known as “Ramadan packages” for free. The cartons usually contain food commodities like tomato sauce, rice and dried dates.

Committees from the ministries of endowments, supply and social solidarity will deliver the Ramadan packages to families across all governorates, Moselhi added.

The ministries of endowments and social solidarity said they would cooperate to accurately target the neediest families.

According to a protocol signed between the Ministry of Internal Trade and the Ministry of Endowments, the former would provide 2,000 tons of sugar, rice and macaroni to be included in the Ramadan packages.

Sheikh Bakr Abdel Hadi, deputy minister of endowments in Gharbia governorate, said in April that 14,000 Ramadan packages have already been prepared to be delivered to poor people in the governorate.

Interior Ministry’s Aman Co-op

The Aman Co-op was launched by the Interior Ministry to provide citizens with basic commodities for low prices. A number of 924 outlets for Aman were reportedly opened nationwide especially in needy districts.


FILE - The interior Ministry’s Aman Co-op launches a two-day medical convoy in Qena in cooperation with other organizations

In April, the ministry’s Aman Co-op, in cooperation with the United Co. for Trade and Distribution and HO group that is reportedly the largest distributor of pharmaceuticals in Africa, launched a two-day medical convoy in Qena governorate.

Ayman Khalifa, an official in the HO group, said that the medical convoy has examined around 950 patients, diagnosed cases and gave them medicines.

Milk crisis

On September 1, 2016, dozens of mothers protested against a shortage in infant milk, which is mainly imported by the Egyptian Pharmaceutical Trading Company in Cairo.

On September 3, 2016, Minister of Health, Ahmed Emad el-Din said that the Armed Forces managed to distribute 30 million packages of infant milk at half price to pharmacies.


FILE - Former army spokesman, Mohamed Samir

Former army spokesman, Mohamed Samir, said on September 9, that the army is targeting companies and individuals that monopolize infant milk and raise its price, which increase the suffering of people with low income.

Food aid amid war in Sinai

The Comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018 which comes within the Armed Forces’ ongoing counterterrorism operations in Sinai that are aimed at eliminating terrorists and takfiri elements and eradicating their breeding grounds and hotbeds, has made the movement of people in Sinai somehow limited.


Screenshots of the 22nd statement of the Armed Forces concerning Comprehensive Sinai Operation 2018

According to its 22nd statement published on the Defense Ministry’s website on Thursday to follow up on the updates of the Operation, the Armed Forces continue to provide people of North and Central Sinai with food aid to ease their suffering.


Screenshots of the 22nd statement of the Armed Forces concerning Comprehensive Sinai Operation 2018

Since the ousting of former Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated President Mohamed Morsi, Egypt has seen growing waves of extremism washing over the society and spawning numerous deadly attacks. Among these attacks was the terrorist attack that hit Al-Rawdah Mosque in Al-Arish, North Sinai, and left more than 302 Friday prayer congregants dead in late November.


Screenshots of the 22nd statement of the Armed Forces concerning Comprehensive Sinai Operation 2018


Screenshots of the 22nd statement of the Armed Forces concerning Comprehensive Sinai Operation 2018