On Tuesday, Egypt lent help to the U.S. to fight against the current coronavirus pandemic by sending a plane of medical supplies to the United States. 

Egypt’s general-turned-president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, on many occasions, showed his eagerness to build strong relations with President Donald Trump, and his country has already shipped medical aids with fanfare to China and Italy.

In a video statement issued from Sisi’s office, we can see wrapped crates that read in English and Arabic, “From the Egyptian people to the American people,” being transferred into a military cargo plane.

As per the Dutch Ruppersberger, who leads a group in the US House of Representatives that promotes relations with Egypt, the plane with medical aid landed at Andrews Air Force base outside Washington.

Ruppersberger informed that the plane carried 200,000 masks, 48,000 shoe covers, and 20,000 surgical caps, among other supplies.

In his tweet, Ruppersberger wrote, “This is why international diplomacy and maintaining relationships with allies like Egypt are essential not in times of crisis, but every day.”

Jonathan Cohen, the US ambassador in Cairo, also appreciated Egypt’s move of providing medical aid to the U.S.

Approximately 3,300 positive cases of coronavirus and 250 deaths were registered in Egypt, as per the data shared by the WHO. The number is significantly less than the number of deaths in the U.S., which has now reached nearly 45,000.

However, some people questioned Egypt’s move, giving a reference that one-third of the Egyptian population lives on about USD 1.50 or less a day. Was the country in a position to offer relief?

A prominent blogger, known by the handle name “The Big Pharaoh,” tweeted, “Egyptians who are happy and proud that Egypt sent medical supplies to Italy, UK and the US are probably the ones who can afford to pay 10 EGP for a mask.”