Cairo (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) – 29 January
2026 – Egyptian authorities announced preparedness to dispatch
humanitarian aid and receive wounded Palestinians immediately upon Rafah
crossing reopening. The statement follows ongoing coordination with Palestinian
and international parties. Egypt emphasised its established logistical capacity
for large-scale assistance.
Egypt declared on Thursday its complete readiness to send
substantial humanitarian aid convoys and accept wounded individuals from Gaza
once the Rafah border crossing reopens. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu
Zeid confirmed stockpiles of medical supplies, food, and shelter materials
positioned near the crossing. Egyptian Red Crescent teams maintain 24-hour
alert status.
The announcement comes amid international pressure for
restored access following military operations affecting the crossing. Egypt has
prepared 500 trucks carrying essential supplies including insulin, antibiotics,
and surgical kits. Reception facilities at Egyptian field hospitals accommodate
2,000 casualties initially.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty conveyed the position during
UN Security Council consultations. He specified technical teams completed
crossing infrastructure assessments last week. Egypt coordinates with
Palestinian authorities for smooth aid handovers.
Egyptian Logistical Preparations for Rafah Operations
Egyptian armed forces engineers repaired crossing facilities damaged in prior fighting. Storage depots at El Arish hold 10,000 tonnes of flour, 5,000 tonnes of rice, and 2 million litres of diesel. Convoys organise in staggered formations for continuous delivery.
Medical reception protocols establish triage centres 10
kilometres from Rafah. Egyptian military field hospitals feature 300 beds with
ICU capabilities. Ambulances equipped with ventilators stand ready for patient
transfers to Cairo hospitals.
Rafah coordination office operates round-the-clock with
Palestinian Civil Defence. Egyptian customs authorities pre-clear aid shipments
avoiding delays. Satellite communication links ensure real-time border status
updates.
Stockpiled Aid Categories and Quantities Detailed
Food supplies include 1.2 million meal kits sufficient for
100,000 families weekly. Nutritional supplements target 50,000 children under
five. Water purification units produce 2 million litres daily capacity.
Medical inventory lists 500,000 doses of antibiotics,
200,000 insulin vials, and 100,000 painkiller packs. Surgical theatres stock
5,000 suture kits and 10,000 bandages. Blood banks maintain O-negative reserves
for emergency transfusions.
Shelter materials comprise 20,000 tents, 50,000 blankets,
and 30,000 mattresses. Hygiene kits number 150,000 units containing soap,
toothpaste, and sanitary products. Winter clothing suits 75,000 individuals.
Reception Capacity for Wounded Palestinians
Egypt prepares six field hospitals with 1,800 total beds
including 400 intensive care units. Cairo's Al-Azhar and Ain Shams hospitals
allocate 500 beds for complex cases. Airlift capabilities transport critical
patients to European facilities.
Triage protocols prioritise burns, shrapnel wounds, and
chronic conditions. Paediatric teams specialise in malnutrition cases. Mental
health professionals deploy for trauma counselling.
Egyptian health ministry reports 95% bed occupancy readiness
with full staffing. Pharmaceutical companies donate medications valued at $50
million. International NGOs coordinate specialist deployments.
Coordination Mechanisms with Palestinian Authorities
Bilateral committees meet daily via secure video links.
Palestinian health ministry provides casualty lists for prioritisation. Rafah
handovers follow established 2014 protocols refined through experience.
Egyptian intelligence liaises with Hamas civil
administration for security clearances. Palestinian Red Crescent coordinates
with Egyptian counterparts on convoy escorts. Joint inspection teams verify aid
contents at crossing points.
Technical working groups resolve infrastructure challenges.
Egypt supplies generators and fuel for Gaza-side facilities. Communication
towers restore mobile coverage across border zone.
Historical Context of Rafah Crossing Operations
Egypt facilitated 1.5 million crossings during 2023-2024 offensives. Previous operations delivered 450,000 tonnes of aid materials. Egyptian military supervised 95% of humanitarian convoys entering Gaza.
Field hospitals treated 28,000 wounded with 1,200 fatalities recorded. Air bridges evacuated 8,000 critical cases to tertiary facilities. Rafah served primary artery throughout 15-month conflict period.
Egypt maintained crossing functionality despite 17 direct
hits. Engineering brigades rebuilt facilities eight times. International donors
contributed $4.2 billion through Cairo channels.
International Support for Egyptian Initiative
UNRWA director general commended Egypt's preparedness. World
Health Organisation pledged $100 million medical support. Qatar committed $500
million funding for initial convoys.
United States Agency for International Development allocated
200 trucks of supplies. European Union dispatched 50 ambulances through Sinai
corridor. Saudi Arabia funded 10,000 tent installations.
Turkish medical teams prepare deployment upon crossing
activation. Jordan dispatched field hospital units to El Arish staging area.
International Red Cross federations coordinate global response.
Egyptian Government Official Statements
President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi instructed
"immediate action upon first notification."
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly chaired daily readiness
committee meetings. Foreign Minister Abdelatty affirmed
"Egypt's humanitarian duty precedes all considerations."
Spokesman Abu Zeid detailed
"green light systems activate within 60 minutes."
Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar confirmed
"all hospitals on war footing."
Interior Minister Mahmoud Tawfik secured Sinai approach
roads.
Presidential advisor Diaa Rashwan emphasised
"technical readiness matches political will."
Military spokesperson confirmed logistics corps full
mobilisation.
Technical Infrastructure at Rafah Crossing
Egyptian engineers installed 2km conveyor systems for rapid
unloading. X-ray scanners process 100 trucks hourly. Backup generators ensure
continuous operations during power failures.
Cold chain facilities maintain vaccines at 2-8°C
temperatures. Water desalination plants produce 500,000 litres daily.
Wastewater treatment units process hospital effluents safely.
Border sensors monitor structural integrity post-conflict.
Crane capacities lift 40-tonne containers efficiently. Fire suppression systems
protect supply depots from sabotage.
Medical Evacuation Protocols Established
Ambulance convoys organise in 20-vehicle formations with
military escorts. Patient stabilisation occurs en route to field hospitals.
Helicopter pads facilitate urgent air transfers.
Classification system prioritises: Category 1 immediate life
threats, Category 2 within 24 hours, Category 3 stable transport. Family
accompaniment permitted for minors under 16.
European hospitals confirmed 1,500 bed allocations. German
air force medical evacuation flights stand ready. Turkish Airlines allocated
cargo holds for patient transport.
Humanitarian Corridors Beyond Rafah
Egypt prepares Kerem Shalom coordination for supplementary
access. Al-Alamein port receives sea shipments for overland delivery. Sinai
airports handle international relief flights.
Domestic fundraising campaigns collected EGP 2 billion
contributions. Mosque networks distribute collection boxes nationwide.
Corporate donors pledged monthly supply commitments.
NGO partnerships establish distribution hubs in North Sinai.
Volunteer training programmes graduated 5,000 relief workers. Citizen
initiatives sew clothing and blankets locally.
Security Arrangements for Aid Convoys
Egyptian army deploys three battalions along convoy routes. Apache helicopters provide aerial overwatch. Electronic warfare units jam potential drone threats.
Armoured personnel carriers escort medical transports. Night
vision capabilities ensure 24-hour operations. Rapid intervention forces
maintain 15-minute response times.
Intelligence fusion centres monitor threat indicators
continuously. Border security cameras feed real-time analytics. Counter-IED
teams sweep routes hourly.
Economic Impact on Egyptian Sinai Region
El Arish economy absorbs $1.2 billion annual aid traffic.
Local employment reaches 25,000 jobs across logistics chain. Hotel occupancy
rates exceed 90% during peak operations.
Transportation sector reports 40% revenue increase from
convoys. Agricultural producers supply fresh produce to camps. Construction
firms rebuild border infrastructure repeatedly.
Sinai development projects receive 15% aid surcharge funding.
Bedouin reconciliation committees facilitate local cooperation. Regional
security improves through economic inclusion programmes.
Media and Information Operations
Egyptian state television broadcasts daily readiness
updates. Al Ahram publishes convoy preparation graphics. Foreign press centre
accommodates 200 journalists at El Arish.
Social media campaigns
use #RafahReady hashtag reaching 15 million impressions. Live crossing
webcams activate upon reopening. Satellite trucks position for continuous
coverage.
Briefing rooms host international correspondents thrice
daily. Translation services support 12 languages. Fact-checking units combat
misinformation proactively.
Diplomatic Coordination Efforts
Egyptian ambassadors secured 22 donor country commitments.
Arab League summit endorsed Cairo hub designation. African Union pledged
solidarity contributions.
Non-aligned movement foreign ministers supported Egyptian
positions. BRICS development bank approved $300 million facility. G77+China
collective issued supportive communique.
Permanent missions circulate daily situation reports.
Quartet representatives coordinate unified messaging. Contact group ambassadors
receive technical briefings weekly.