Turkish Red Crescent (Kızılay) President Fatma Meriç Yılmaz visited Palestinian patients evacuated from the Gaza Strip and receiving treatment in Cairo, Egypt, and announced a new three-month support program worth approximately TL 3.2 million ($66,528) for patients unable to afford their treatment costs.
During her visit, Yılmaz, accompanied by Türkiye’s Ambassador to Cairo Salih Mutlu Şen, met with Palestinian patients and their companions, and received information about their treatment processes. She also met with health care workers providing care to the patients.
Yılmaz also held talks with officials from the Egyptian Red Crescent to discuss cooperation on humanitarian aid efforts for Gaza.
The new patient support program will be implemented for Palestinians receiving treatment at the Palestine Red Crescent Hospital in Cairo who cannot cover their medical expenses.
Yılmaz said the hospital has treated thousands of Palestinians who have arrived in Egypt from Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, and receives more than 20,000 Palestinian patients each year.
“As a physician and on behalf of the Kızılay family, I would like to express my gratitude to the doctors, nurses and all health care workers who work here with great dedication. They provide services with limited resources but unlimited humanity,” Yılmaz said.
She noted that many patients cannot access the treatment they need because of financial difficulties.
“Therefore, we are launching a new three-month support program for patients who cannot afford their treatment costs. Our aim is to ensure that our patients receive the treatment they need, regain their health and return to their families,” she said.
Yılmaz added that Kızılay would continue working alongside the Palestine Red Crescent for as long as humanitarian needs persist, saying Palestinian patients would not be left alone.
Meanwhile, Kızılay has delivered approximately TL 10.5 million worth of medical supplies to the Al-Amal and Al-Mawasi hospitals in Gaza during August as part of its Gaza Health Support Project.
The shipment consists of 34 different categories of supplies and supports hospitals operated by the Palestine Red Crescent that are providing healthcare services far beyond their capacity.
Kızılay has been covering the costs of medicines, medical supplies, personnel and operating expenses at the two hospitals for six months since Oct. 1, 2025. The assistance provided to the facilities has helped secure access to healthcare for more than 150,000 people in Gaza.
The total value of health assistance delivered by Kızılay to Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, has exceeded TL 85 million.
The aid provided to the region includes 6 ambulances, 68,095 medicines, 118,028 medical supplies and 13,225 blood-related supplies and devices.
Shipments sent to Gaza have also included a fully equipped field hospital, operating room and intensive care units, as well as an apheresis device and blood bag systems used for blood services.
Kızılay has additionally provided approximately TL 50 million in financial assistance to the Palestine Red Crescent to help it maintain critical operations, particularly its hospitals and ambulance services.
Gaza’s health care system continues to face severe pressure amid ongoing shortages and damage to medical infrastructure.
According to available figures, the Israeli army has carried out at least 445 attacks on health care facilities in the Gaza Strip, damaging 155 facilities.
Only 47% of hospitals in the enclave are able to operate partially. As of August 2026, approximately 15,600 patients in Gaza reportedly require treatment outside the enclave.
Women and children account for 72% of those killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to the figures cited in the report.
