https://arab.news/m7s6m
- Egypt sent 200,000 masks, 48,000 shoe covers and 20,000 surgical caps among other supplies to Washington
WASHINGTON: Egypt on Tuesday flew a plane of medical supplies to the US to assist in the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, a role reversal for a top US aid recipient.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has been eager to cement relations with President Donald Trump, and his country has already shipped medical goods with fanfare to China and Italy.
A video statement from El-Sisi’s office showed crates in wrapping that read in English and Arabic, “From the Egyptian people to the American people,” being loaded into a military cargo plane.
Dutch Ruppersberger, who leads a group in the US House of Representatives that promotes relations with Egypt, said the plane landed at Andrews Air Force base outside Washington.
The plane brought 200,000 masks, 48,000 shoe covers and 20,000 surgical caps among other supplies, said Ruppersberger, a Democrat who heads the bipartisan group.
“This is why international diplomacy and maintaining relationships with allies like Egypt are essential not in times of crisis, but every day,” he wrote on Twitter.
The US ambassador in Cairo, Jonathan Cohen, also voiced appreciation for the “generous” shipment.
Egypt has reported 250 deaths from COVID-19 and some 3,300 cases, according to the World Health Organization.
It is far below the nearly 45,000 deaths recorded in the US, which has been scrambling to provide supplies and tests.
Still, some questioned whether Egypt, where one-third of the population lives on about $1.50 or less a day, was in a position to offer relief.
“Egyptians who are happy and proud that Egypt sent medical supplies to Italy, UK and the US are probably the ones who can afford to pay 10 EGP ($0.63) for a mask,” tweeted a prominent blogger who goes by The Big Pharaoh.