On Wednesday, August 5, 2020, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmed Aṭ-Ṭayyeb, gave instructions of an urgent medical and relief convoy from Al-Azhar to be sent to Lebanon. This convoy is meant to express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Lebanon, and to alleviate the repercussions of the Beirut blast that has shaken the Lebanese capital, causing heartache to millions around the world.
The Grand Imam stressed the importance of showing solidarity and standing with Lebanon in these hard humanitarian circumstances. He added that it is important to provide all means of support for this genuine Arab country and its good people to mitigate the horrible effects and damages left by the blast, and to overcome this ordeal and lead Lebanon to the shore of safety and stability. The Imam stressed that such aid is not a matter of courtesy, but rather it is an inherent right of the fellow Lebanese people, and a religious and humanitarian duty on the Arab and Muslim countries as well as all other countries that are capable of providing such humanitarian aid.
The convoy is headed by Prof. Muḥammad Al-Maḥraṣāwī, Rector of Al-Azhar University, accompanied by Dr. Mahmoud Ṣiddīq, Vice Rector of Al-Azhar University. The convoy includes a distinguished group of professors from the Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, with various specialties, including emergency departments, critical cases, orthopedics, plastic surgery, burns, neurosurgery, nose and ear surgery, laryngology, anesthesiology, intensive care, ophthalmology and general surgery. The convoy also includes a number of members of the relief convoys from Al-Azhar Headquarters. The Grand Imam instructed the convoy to be fully equipped with the necessary medical tools, medications, medical supplies and food stuff.
The day before, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar issued a statement soon after the Beirut port bombing, expressing condolence to the families of the victims, and wishes of a speedy recovery for the injured. He also expressed Al-Azhar's full solidarity with Lebanon, and called on all countries of the world to offer assistance and urgent aid to Lebanon to overcome this humanitarian disaster.