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Egypt, China Agree to Produce COVID-19 Vaccine

Minister of Health Hala Zayed with China's Ambassador to Cairo Liao Liqiang (Egyptian Prime Ministry)
Minister of Health Hala Zayed with China's Ambassador to Cairo Liao Liqiang (Egyptian Prime Ministry)
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Egypt, China Agree to Produce COVID-19 Vaccine

Minister of Health Hala Zayed with China's Ambassador to Cairo Liao Liqiang (Egyptian Prime Ministry)
Minister of Health Hala Zayed with China's Ambassador to Cairo Liao Liqiang (Egyptian Prime Ministry)

China has chosen Egypt as its regional African center for producing COVID-19 vaccine that proved effective in curing the virus, announced Egyptian Health Ministry.

Minister of Health Hala Zayed and China's Ambassador to Cairo Liao Liqiang met on Monday to discuss Egypt's participation in Chinese clinical trials on a possible vaccine for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Ministry of Health Spokesperson Khaled Mogahed said in a statement that the meeting addressed the cooperation between Egypt's Holding Company for Biological Products and Vaccines (VACSERA) and a Chinese company working in the field of drug production.

Mogahed indicated that Egypt will be the African hub for manufacturing China’s vaccine for COVID-19 shortly after proven effective against the pandemic.

The statement added that the quality and capacity of production lines in Egypt will be assessed to begin manufacturing the vaccine once it is developed.

Speaking after the meeting, the Chinese ambassador lauded the cooperation between the two countries to combat the coronavirus and extended Beijing's support to Cairo at all levels.

Liqiang also praised Egyptian medical teams’ success in dealing with the health crisis.

Meanwhile, the Ministry called on the Egyptians to adhere to precautionary and preventive measures, wear masks and maintain social distance, despite the decline in coronavirus cases in the country.

The ministry issued a statement reporting that 512 has been discharged from the hospital after receiving full treatment, bringing the total recoveries in the country to 28,380.

The country's total number of confirmed cases reached 87,775 with 4,302 fatalities. A total of 28,380 cases have recovered and been discharged from quarantine facilities.

In related news, the Egyptian Health Minister directed the ministry officials to send COVID-19 treatment protocols to Yemen to help fight the novel pandemic.

During her meeting with the Yemeni counterpart Nasser Baoom, Zayed announced that Egypt will be providing Yemen with a psychological support program to patients and health service providers infected with the virus.

Egypt will also transfer its experiences in eliminating virus hepatitis C to the Yemeni side, as part of the Egyptian President's initiative.

Also, the Health Minister pledged to discuss a draft law submitted by the government to amend some provisions in the law regulating the affairs of the medical professions.

Speaking at a plenary session, the Minister stated that approving this law during the coronavirus pandemic is important for medical workers in such circumstances, stressing that there are many doctors and workers in the medical field who sacrificed their lives while confronting the COVID-19.

The Minister indicated that she agreed with the chairman of the parliamentary health committee, Mohammed al-Ammari, to discuss the amendments and include other categories of workers in the medical sector.

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Arab World

Experts Warn Floods to Continue to Impact Humanitarian Situation in Yemen

Yemen receives high levels of rainfall annually (AFP)
Yemen receives high levels of rainfall annually (AFP)
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Experts Warn Floods to Continue to Impact Humanitarian Situation in Yemen

Yemen receives high levels of rainfall annually (AFP)
Yemen receives high levels of rainfall annually (AFP)

Although Yemen's rainy season nears its end, experts on Thursday warned of heavy showers in several areas across the country, nevertheless with a decrease in their frequency and intensity.

Heavy downpours in war-torn Yemen over the past weeks have triggered flash flooding and landslides, causing significant casualties and damages in properties and infrastructure.

On Tuesday, experts and meteorology centers forecast scattered rains on the easternmost province of Mahra, the western highlands in the provinces of Taiz, Ibb, Lahj, Rayma, Dhamar, Sanaa, Al Mahwit, Amran, Hajjah and Saada, as well as the western coast in the provinces of Hajjah, Hodeidah and Taiz, and the plains in the provinces of Abyan, Shabwa and Hadramaut.

In forecasts posted on social media, the experts warned of thunderclouds carrying huge amounts of rain, accompanied by hail, thunder and strong winds, urging residents to take the necessary precautions.

Since early this month, Yemen has witnessed a drop in rainfall. In July and August, Yemen experienced severe flooding due to prolonged heavy rainfall, fueled by unusual weather patterns. Numerous governorates across the nation were impacted, especially the governorates of Hodeidah and Al Mahwit.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) this week warned of a deepening humanitarian disaster in Yemen as ongoing floods, which began in March and intensified in July and August, continue to devastate multiple governorates.

The floods have displaced tens of thousands of families, destroyed vital infrastructure, and fueled the rapid spread of cholera.

Floods have severely impacted the governorates of Hodeidah, Hajjah, Marib, Saada, and Taiz, with nearly 268,000 individuals affected as of last month.

IRC warned that while rainfall has stopped in September, the risk of additional flash floods remains high due to already saturated ground and poor drainage systems.

Severe Impact of Floods

IRC said that floods have severely impacted the governorates of Hodeidah, Hajjah, Marib, Sadah, and Taiz, with nearly 268,000 individuals (38,285 families) affected as of last month, according to OCHA reports.

It said the heavy rains, expected to persist into September, have caused widespread destruction of homes, agricultural land, and infrastructure, further limiting access to food - an issue that more than 17 million Yemenis are already struggling with due to conflict, economic decline, and rising food prices, all exacerbated by the climate crisis.

In Taiz alone, an estimated 70 to 100% of agricultural land has been destroyed. While rainfall has stopped in September, the risk of additional flash floods remains high due to already saturated ground and poor drainage systems.

The IRC urgently called on the international community to scale up financial and logistical support to meet the immediate and long-term needs of those affected by this disaster. Without timely action, the situation in Yemen will continue to deteriorate, putting more lives at risk, it warned.

Rapid Spread of Cholera

“Yemen is facing a crisis on multiple fronts—ongoing conflict, severe flooding, and now a cholera outbreak that has been rapidly spreading across several governorates,” IRC’s Acting Country Director in Yemen, Isaiah Ogolla, said.

Ogolla said people’s lives are at immediate risk, and the destruction of water and sanitation facilities is likely to worsen the spread of the disease.

“In response, the IRC is launching emergency operations in the hardest-hit districts of Hajjah, Hodeidah, Al-Mahwit and Taiz, providing cash assistance to approximately 2,000 affected households,” he said.

The IRC acting country director noted that the initial phase will focus on addressing immediate needs, with further assessments planned to guide potential interventions in water and sanitation, such as establishing water points and emergency latrines.

Ogolla said the IRC and its partners have conducted assessments across the affected areas, revealing that nearly 9,600 people have been displaced due to the floods in Taiz, Hajjah, and Hodeidah.

The floodwaters have severely damaged water, sanitation, and health infrastructure, increasing the risk of further cholera outbreaks across these regions.

On Tuesday, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KsRelief) distributed emergency shelter aids to those affected by torrents and floods in the Mawza district of Taiz Governorate.

The emergency aid included 100 tents and 370 shelter bags, benefiting 2,220 individuals affected by floods.