Egypt’s health minister said on Wednesday that nearly 2,500 ambulances will be deployed on the main roads and highways leading to the country’s coastal cities, as part of a comprehensive plan to ensure safe holidaymaking during the Eid Al-Fitr vacation, Al-Ahram’s Arabic news website reported.

Minister of Health Adel El-Adawy said that ambulances and emergency services will be based in seven main locations, including the capital, the Mediterranean city of Alexandria and southern Egyptian cities.

Medical emergency squads will also be stationed around public parks and facilities, while patrols will constantly circulate on the highways.

He said hospital ER staff will not be allowed time off for two days preceding the holidays, as they are to verify the availability and efficiency of all potentially needed medical appliances and supplies.

Celebrated by Muslims worldwide, Eid Al-Fitr will begin early next week to mark the conclusion of the month of Ramadan, where Muslims fast from dawn to dusk.

Egyptians traditionally use the three-day Eid vacation to travel to Mediterranean coastal cities and Red Sea resorts, especially when the feast coincides with the summer months. Heavy traffic on highways raises the probability of road accidents.

According to a recent report by the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS), the country's statistical body, nearly 18 people are killed in road accidents every day.

Road accidents are one of the main causes of death in Egypt.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/106896.aspx