Washington
– Egypt on Tuesday flew a plane of medical supplies to the United States to
assist in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, a role reversal for a top
US aid recipient.
Egypt’s general-turned-president,
Abdel Fattah al-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 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.
Questions whether Egypt in position to offer relief
Egypt has reported 250 deaths
from Covid-19 and some 3 300 cases, according to the World Health Organisation
(WHO).
It is far below the nearly 45 000
deaths recorded in the United States, 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 for a mask,” tweeted a prominent blogger
who goes by The Big Pharaoh. Ten Egyptian pounds is more than half a dollar.
Egypt last month revoked the
press credentials of a journalist from The Guardian who wrote that the
country’s Covid-19 infections were higher than reported.
Trump has voiced enthusiastic
support for Sisi, who toppled Egypt’s elected Islamist president in 2013 and
has backed strong relations with Israel.
The United States gave Egypt more
than $1.2 billion in the 2018 fiscal year, largely in military aid that goes
back to US contractors.
Stay healthy and entertained during the national lockdown. Sign up for our Lockdown Living newsletter. Register and manage your newsletters in the new News24 app by clicking on the Profile tab