Order of Malta in Cairo to assist the wounded evacuated from Gaza

Cairo/Cologne. A team of ten doctors and volunteers from Malteser International, the Order of Malta’s international relief agency, is in Cairo to assist injured children and adults evacuated from the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing conflict.

The initiative is aimed at patients whose injuries or illnesses require surgical interventions and specialized care not currently accessible in the Strip. At the Umberto I Italian Hospital in Cairo, Malteser International works with a team of doctors, psychologists and nurses in collaboration with the Centre for Reconstructive Surgery in Armed Conflicts and Worldwide Surgical Missions, which has provided three specialists, including a neurosurgeon.

During the early days of the mission, the medical team evaluated, in cooperation with local hospital staff, the conditions of fourteen patients, identifying the most appropriate treatment for each.

"We have already operated on five patients. Some of the people we have assisted have had extremely traumatic experiences, such as those who have been buried under rubble for hours or have lost loved ones. Our team carried out medical examinations, performed surgery when necessary and offered psychological support, with the aim of not only healing wounds but also restoring a sense of dignity, security and hope to these people,” said Dr. Edo Lihic, Malteser International’s mission leader in Cairo.

Alongside healthcare, Malteser International will offer a psychological first-aid (PFA) course for Palestinian staff, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). This course is designed to develop the expertise of those providing initial psychosocial support to people facing extremely stressful and crisis situations.

Malteser International’s medical mission in Cairo will continue until 25th October. This is a pilot project that Malteser International would like to continue over the coming months so that it can continue to provide medical care to people in Gaza.