Egyptian medical student Haya Amr Fawzy has been honored for her quick response and humanitarian efforts after stepping in to help victims of the Arabella Plaza Mall explosion in New Cairo.
Haya, a third-year medical student at Newgiza University, was recognized by Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister and Acting Culture Minister Abdelaziz Konsowa after she provided first aid to injured people in the immediate aftermath of the August 13 incident.
Haya Amr Steps In During the Emergency
Haya happened to be at Arabella Plaza in the Fifth Settlement when the explosion occurred.
She later explained that she quickly moved toward the injured, checked victims’ pulses, provided first aid and helped guide bystanders on how to assist without worsening anyone’s injuries. She also contacted emergency services and urged people not to move seriously injured victims unnecessarily.
Her response gained widespread attention after footage and accounts of the incident circulated online.
What Happened at Arabella Plaza?
The incident took place on August 13, 2026, when a pressurized helium cylinder exploded inside a gift shop at Arabella Plaza Mall in New Cairo.
Egypt’s Interior Ministry said the blast caused a limited fire inside the shop and damaged nearby storefronts. Authorities also denied early rumors that an elevator had fallen inside the mall.
Later reports said the explosion killed three people and injured multiple others, while prosecutors opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the blast.
Higher Education Ministry Honors Haya
On August 17, Minister Abdelaziz Konsowa formally honored Haya in recognition of what the ministry described as her courage, quick thinking and humanitarian initiative.
The ceremony was attended by Newgiza University President Ahmed Sameh Farid, Private Universities Council Secretary Ehab Hassanein, as well as members of Haya’s family.
Konsowa said the ministry wanted to highlight positive examples among university students, stressing that education is not only about academic achievement but also about compassion, responsibility and service to others.
“It Was a Humanitarian Duty”
Haya said she did not view her actions as something extraordinary, describing her decision to help as a basic humanitarian and moral responsibility.
She said she acted instinctively during the first moments of the emergency and later experienced the emotional impact of what she had witnessed only after returning home.
Her story has since been widely praised as an example of how medical knowledge, calm decision-making and willingness to act can make a difference during the first critical moments of an emergency.
A Young Medical Student Becomes a Public Example
Haya’s recognition has turned her into one of the most talked-about figures to emerge from the Arabella Plaza incident.
For Newgiza University and the Ministry of Higher Education, her actions represented exactly the kind of responsibility and social awareness they hope to encourage among students. Newgiza University also publicly praised her courage, compassion and commitment to helping others.
What began as a normal visit to the mall became a moment in which a young medical student had to put her training into practice under extreme pressure.
Her response did not change the tragedy of what happened at Arabella Plaza, but it did provide a powerful example of stepping forward when others needed help most.
