Singapore to send medical contingent to treat Palestinians in Egypt

A medical contingent from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Health Ministry will fly to Egypt in the coming weeks to provide care to Palestinians and help the people of Gaza.

- Syarafana Shafeeq

In preparation, a team of eight people from the SAF will travel to Egypt to engage on-the-ground groups and the Egyptian authorities to learn about the preparations needed in terms of supplies and equipment. Another person from MOH will join them on April 22.

A send-off was held for the team at the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) headquarters at Gombak Drive on April 16. The event was attended by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health Masagos Zulkifli, and Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad.

Speaking to the media, Dr Ng said that Singapore has been looking to ease the suffering of Palestinians since the Oct 7 attack in 2023 and the unfolding of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

"In selecting what we can contribute, we've been very careful to look at what we can accomplish, whether we can be effective and also keep soldiers and personnel safe," he said.