Egypt Urges Citizens to Get Vaccinated Against COVID

Madbouly and Zayed during the launch of a campaign to encourage citizens to receive the vaccine (Egyptian Cabinet's Facebook page)
Madbouly and Zayed during the launch of a campaign to encourage citizens to receive the vaccine (Egyptian Cabinet's Facebook page)
TT

Egypt Urges Citizens to Get Vaccinated Against COVID

Madbouly and Zayed during the launch of a campaign to encourage citizens to receive the vaccine (Egyptian Cabinet's Facebook page)
Madbouly and Zayed during the launch of a campaign to encourage citizens to receive the vaccine (Egyptian Cabinet's Facebook page)

Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly launched on Wednesday a campaign to enhance public confidence in the effectiveness and safety of coronavirus vaccines and help citizens to register for vaccination.

Madbouly said, “I hope these efforts succeed in encouraging citizens to register for vaccination, especially with the increasing rate of infection."

"I hope the campaign helps people realize the importance of COVID-19 vaccines, as they contribute significantly to either avoiding infection or alleviating its severity.”

Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population on Tuesday reported 503 new coronavirus cases and 10 deaths.

A total of 293,951 cases have been disclosed in Egypt, alongside 16,895 deaths and 247,450 recoveries.

During his inspection of a pop-up vaccination bus to encourage citizens to get a COVID-19 jab, in the presence of Health Minister Hala Zayed, Madbouly stressed the importance of receiving the vaccine to get protection against infection or reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.

The campaign is in line with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's directives to expand vaccine access, the health minister said.

She added that the campaign will be launched in Cairo, Giza, and Alexandria governorates in the initial stage and later in other governorates.

Concerning the local manufacturing of the COVID-19 vaccine, Zayed said that 5 million doses have been produced so far.

Between September 11 and 30, about 17 million doses of different COVID-19 vaccine types, including AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Sinopharm, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Sputnik, and Pfizer, will be provided.



Lebanon, Israel Ceasefire Deal Will Take Place in Three Phases and ‘Simultaneous’ Withdrawals

 Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
TT

Lebanon, Israel Ceasefire Deal Will Take Place in Three Phases and ‘Simultaneous’ Withdrawals

 Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahiyeh, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024. (AP)

Informed sources revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that US-President elect Donald Trump agreed on the steps that President Joe Biden’s administration will take to ensure the success of the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

Israel approved the ceasefire on Tuesday night after Lebanon had already agreed to it.

The sources, which followed up on the negotiations for the 60-day truce, said the steps call for the withdrawal of Hezbollah fighters and their weapons from the South where the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon is deployed. In return, Israeli forces will withdraw from southern Lebanon.

More negotiations through American mediators will take place throughout the process.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump “gave his blessing” to the process during his meeting with Biden at the White House two weeks ago.

A committee led by the US will oversee the implementation of the withdrawal. France, Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL are also part of the committee.

Asharq Al-Awsat learned that Hezbollah’s withdrawal will take place in three 20-day phases. The first withdrawal will take place in the western sector.

It will coincide with an Israeli pullout from areas it occupied in that region. A strengthened Lebanese army force and UNIFIL troops will deploy in their place.

The second phase will cover the central sector and follow the same process.

The residents of the frontline southern villages will not be allowed to return to their homes immediately until they are deemed safe and after ensuring that no Hezbollah members or weapons remain there.

Residents of the so-called second and third line of villages south of the Litani River will be allowed to return to their homes immediately.

The source expected the US to play an “effective role” in the mechanism to oversee the withdrawal. It did not clarify whether any American forces will take part in the process.

It revealed that Britain and other countries will “exert special efforts to verify whether illegitimate weapons are being smuggled to Hezbollah.”

The five-member committee will not replace the tripartite committee already in place and that includes Lebanon, Israel and UNIFIL.