Egypt’s Al Azhar sends Sudan urgent medical, food aid

CAIRO – 3 September 2022: The Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif Sheikh Ahmed Al-Tayeb has directed the officials of the Egyptian House of Zakat and Charities, in cooperation with the concerned authorities in Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, to send urgent medical and food aid to Sudan, where more than 100 people were killed due to torrential rains.

The floods have injured dozens of people and destroyed thousands of homes, while residents were displaced in search of safety and security.

The aid was sent during the past few days to the residents impacted by the devastating floods, in coordination with the Egyptian Embassy in Khartoum, said Al Azhar Sheikhdom in a statement on Saturday.

The aid included foodstuffs [flour, pasta, sugar and canned foodstuffs] and medicines and medical supplies to help the impacted people, besides sending mattresses and blankets.

Five military planes have delivered tons of relief aid to Sudan via an air bridge that extended over several days as per the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. In a statement on  17 August 2022, the Egyptian military spokesman said the planes carried large quantities of tents, blankets, food, medicines, and medical supplies presented by both ministries of defense and health.

The aid aims to contribute to alleviating the burden on the Sudanese brothers and comes “within the framework of Egypt’s support and solidarity with the brotherly Sudanese people in various crises and difficulties,” the statement added.

On Tuesday, Egypt offered condolences to the Sudanese government and people on the victims of the floods that hit a number of Sudanese states killing and injuring scores of citizens in addition to causing huge material damages.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry expressed full solidarity with Sudan in light of the fraternal ties binding both countries.