Egyptian Parliament Probes Toukh Train Accident

People gather at the scene of a rail accident in the town of Toukh north of Cairo on April 18, 2021. (AFP)
People gather at the scene of a rail accident in the town of Toukh north of Cairo on April 18, 2021. (AFP)
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Egyptian Parliament Probes Toukh Train Accident

People gather at the scene of a rail accident in the town of Toukh north of Cairo on April 18, 2021. (AFP)
People gather at the scene of a rail accident in the town of Toukh north of Cairo on April 18, 2021. (AFP)

A train accident north of Cairo on Sunday left 11 people dead and 98 others injured.

Egyptian parliament’s Transport Committee said Monday that it is expecting a detailed report by the probing commission formed following the accident.

It will also soon receive information from the official authorities on the causes and repercussions of the accident.

“During the passage of train No. 949/3209 heading from Cairo to Mansoura, at 13:54, four cars derailed near Sandanhour station (near Toukh),” the Egyptian Railway Authority said in a statement on Sunday.

The train accident took place in Toukh, a small farming town in the fertile Nile Delta about 40 kilometers outside the capital.

MP Wahid Qarqar, under-secretary of the parliament’s Transport Committee, affirmed on Monday that the Committee is holding extensive meetings and is in regular contact with all concerned authorities to follow up the repercussions of the accident, figure its causes, check on the health of the injured and provide all forms of support for them.

The Committee will determine its position after reviewing all the final details from the official authorities and will hold accountable all the parties responsible, Qarqar noted.

MP Mohammed Abdullah confirmed on Monday that Transport Committee is communicating with the ministries of Health and Higher Education to follow up on the condition of the injured.

He called on the transport minister to form “technical inspection committees for all railway lines throughout the Egyptian governorates to find out if there are any technical problems, identify their defects and ensure their safety and compliance with the approved technical standards.”

Sunday’s accident came on the heels of a deadly train crash in March that left at least 20 people dead and 199 injured.

The crash took place in the country's south, and the prosecution has alleged that the driver of one train and his assistant had both left the driver’s cabin when it crashed into another train.



US Houthi Terror Designation Takes Effect, Welcomed by Yemen Govt, Raises UN Concern

The government has fully endorsed the US designation, describing it as an “effective tool to curb material and financial support” for the Houthis. (AP)
The government has fully endorsed the US designation, describing it as an “effective tool to curb material and financial support” for the Houthis. (AP)
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US Houthi Terror Designation Takes Effect, Welcomed by Yemen Govt, Raises UN Concern

The government has fully endorsed the US designation, describing it as an “effective tool to curb material and financial support” for the Houthis. (AP)
The government has fully endorsed the US designation, describing it as an “effective tool to curb material and financial support” for the Houthis. (AP)

The US State Department’s designation of Yemen’s Houthi militias as a “foreign terrorist organization” has been welcomed by the legitimate Yemeni government, but has triggered UN concerns over its impact on humanitarian access, with the international body calling for “guarantees.”

While Yemeni reports suggest the designation could economically strangle the Iran-backed Houthis, fears are mounting that the move may push them to derail the fragile truce, resume the war against the government, and escalate attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The government has fully endorsed the US designation, describing it as an “effective tool to curb material and financial support” for the Houthis.

It renewed its call for the international community to take similar steps to dry up the militias' funding, arms supplies, and to strengthen efforts aimed at restoring stability and peace in Yemen.

In a statement, Yemen’s Foreign Ministry stressed that the country has long suffered from the ravages of war and Iranian interference.

It called the US designation a reinforcement of its partnership with the United States and its allies in the fight against terrorism, hoping it will help curb activities that threaten the security of its citizens, the region, and global maritime trade.

The statement also affirmed Yemen's readiness to cooperate fully with international partners to ensure the effective implementation of the designation, aiming to serve the interests of the Yemeni people and promote peace and security in the region.

Amid concerns over the impact of the US designation on humanitarian efforts in Houthi-controlled areas, UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called for US guarantees.

During a press briefing, he emphasized that the designation should be accompanied by “appropriate assurances” to ensure effective humanitarian aid delivery and to allow civilians access to essential goods and services.

Dujarric also highlighted the UN’s focus on humanitarian response in Yemen, where nearly 19 million people require life-saving assistance, and 17 million are at risk of famine.

He stressed the importance of maintaining the role of the private sector in securing basic needs.

Dujarric cautioned that any disruption in the flow of commercial goods and humanitarian aid could have catastrophic consequences, particularly in a country that relies on imports for around 90% of its food supply.