Egypt’s Ambulance Authority: Children responsible for majority of fake emergency calls

CAIRO – 13 June 2025: The Egyptian Ambulance Authority has reported that children in Egypt are responsible for the majority of fake emergency calls, often falsely claiming accidents or fires.

Amr El-Rashid, chairman of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Ambulance Authority, emphasized the authority’s commitment to delivering high-quality emergency and non-emergency medical services.

In a statement released on July 1, 2025, the authority revealed that only one in ten calls received by the 123 emergency hotline is real, while the remaining 90 percent are false, and are primarily made by children. Many of these fake calls report fabricated accidents and fires, resulting in significant operational costs and complicating the task of identifying real emergencies.

“The authority serves as the first line of defense in emergency situations,”  Rashid stated. “It is a critical rescue tool that saves lives and mitigates the impact of crises.”

He added, “Egypt was among the first countries in the region to recognize the importance of a robust ambulance system capable of responding effectively to emergencies and critical situations.”

The ambulance fleet has been expanded to 3,246 vehicles, all equipped with advanced technology to ensure comprehensive coverage across the country.

Looking ahead, Rashid noted that the authority aims to increase coverage to one ambulance per 25,000 citizens, up from the current ratio of one per 43,000. This initiative is designed to reduce response time and support Egypt’s rapid urban development and national road infrastructure projects.