Egypt sends medical aid, food supplies to Mali amid pandemic

CAIRO – 24 December 2020: Egypt has sent a military transport plane loaded with medical and food supplies to Mali, to support the Malian people in the face of the pandemic.

The aid comes while the Egyptian Minister of Health Hala Zayed officially announced on Wednesday that Egypt is facing a second wave of coronavirus.

The Cabinet also announced cancelling the New Year celebrations worldwide amid growing increase of cases.

As per the president’s directives, the transport plane took off from Cairo East Air Base, heading toward Mali’s Aéroport international de Bamako, loaded also with disinfectants, medical masks and protective gear, the Presidency said in a statement.

“This aid is an affirmation of Egypt’s pioneering role towards the brotherly African countries in helping them overcome the COVID-19 crisis and containing its repercussions on the peoples of the continent,” the statement added.

In September, Sisi directed the government to send medical aid to 30 African countries to help them contain the spread of the novel virus.

It also sent medical aid to the United States and China early during the pandemic.

Mali has so far reported only 6,441 coronavirus cases and a total of 235 deaths, while Egypt has reported 127,972 cases and 7,209 deaths.