Egypt Prepares Aircraft Carrier to Serve as Field Hospital in Libya

Food aid that was dispatched to help those affected by Storm Daniel in Libya. (AFP)
Food aid that was dispatched to help those affected by Storm Daniel in Libya. (AFP)
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Egypt Prepares Aircraft Carrier to Serve as Field Hospital in Libya

Food aid that was dispatched to help those affected by Storm Daniel in Libya. (AFP)
Food aid that was dispatched to help those affected by Storm Daniel in Libya. (AFP)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered on Wednesday the preparation of a Mistral aircraft carrier to serve as a field hospital for the victims of Storm Daniel that struck Libya.

The president instructed the establishment of shelter camps in the Western Military Region for Libyans who lost their homes, according to the Egyptian presidency post on X.

State television quoted presidential spokesman Ahmed Fahmy as saying that Sisi directed the forces and members heading to Libya to make every effort to mitigate the effects of the humanitarian disaster.

Furthermore, the European Union has released an initial €500,000 ($536,545) in humanitarian funding to tackle the most urgent needs of people in Libya affected by the impact of Storm Daniel.

Immediately, EU Member States – so far Germany, Romania, and Finland - have offered substantial assistance in the form of shelter items such as tents, field beds and blankets, 80 generators, food items, as well as hospital tents and water tanks.

Funding will be channeled through partners operating on the ground to deliver lifesaving health and water and sanitation supplies for the flood response in Libya.

The Permanent Mission of the State of Libya to the UN office in Geneva requested on Tuesday assistance from the EU following the floods that killed more than 5,000.

In the same context, the first two planes of the Qatari air bridge arrived at Benina International Airport in Benghazi. The two planes are carrying 67 tons of relief aid as an emergency response to the humanitarian situation in areas affected by floods and torrents.

The aid included medical and food supplies, in addition to a field hospital.

Algeria also dispatched humanitarian aid to Libya including medical supplies, tents and food. The Algerian team included divers and rescue operators.

Furthermore, Jordan dispatched a humanitarian aid plane to Libya.

Hussein Al-Shibli, Secretary-General of Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, stated that this was done in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates and the Jordanian Armed Forces.

The Organization added that the first plane carries emergency relief materials consisting of tents, blankets, mattresses, and food parcels.

For his part, Sultan of Oman Haitham bin Tariq issued directives to send urgent humanitarian aid to Libya.



Sudanese Army Announces Recapture of Khartoum Refinery

President of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan (AFP)
President of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan (AFP)
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Sudanese Army Announces Recapture of Khartoum Refinery

President of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan (AFP)
President of the Sudanese Sovereignty Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan (AFP)

The Sudanese army announced on Saturday that it had regained control of the Al-Jili oil refinery, north of Khartoum, which had been under siege for several days and used as a military base by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for over 21 months.

Chief of Staff General Mohamed Osman Al-Hussein described the victory as a pivotal moment, stating: “This success was achieved through the joint efforts of all military units in the region, culminating at the General Command headquarters, which symbolizes the armed forces and Sudan’s sovereignty.”

Speaking from the General Command in central Khartoum, he said: “Thousands of officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers defended this location.”

Al-Hussein hailed the arrival of reinforcements and their unification with forces at the General Command—besieged by the RSF since the conflict began in April 2023—as “the start of a new era for the armed forces and the Sudanese people, who have stood firmly by their military since the onset of the War of Dignity.”

He added: “This victory will motivate us to liberate every remaining inch of Sudanese territory.”

Army spokesperson Nabil Abdullah confirmed the recapture in a statement on the military’s official Facebook page, writing: “Our forces have fully regained control of the Khartoum refinery.” On Thursday, the refinery suffered a massive fire that destroyed its main storage facilities, with both the army and RSF accusing each other of causing the blaze.

The Sudanese army has recently made significant gains in and around Khartoum. It broke the siege of the Signal Corps base in Bahri and secured the General Command headquarters in central Khartoum. The RSF has not issued any official statement regarding the refinery’s recapture.

Earlier on Saturday, hours before the announcement, General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, head of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and commander of the Sudanese army, visited front-line troops near Al-Jili.

Meanwhile, in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State, dozens were killed or injured after the RSF reportedly targeted the Saudi Hospital. The El Fasher Resistance Committees, a group of civilian activists, reported that at least 67 people were killed and dozens injured.

According to medical sources, the RSF carried out the attack using a drone on Friday evening, causing “the complete destruction of the hospital’s emergency department,” rendering it entirely non-operational, the group wrote on Facebook.