Watan-The World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the evacuation of 104 patients, most of them children, from Gaza, but called for an acceleration of the process as thousands more await evacuation.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated:”Since last Saturday, the World Health Organization has helped evacuate 104 patients, the majority of whom are children, from Gaza through the Rafah crossing to receive specialized medical care in Egypt. They were accompanied by 172 people.”
Ghebreyesus highlighted the dire situation of between 12,000 to 14,000 patients in Gaza who require medical care that can no longer be provided due to the total collapse of the enclave’s healthcare system after more than 15 months of war. He emphasized that current priorities include addressing urgent health needs, supporting the operation of hospitals and primary care facilities, and facilitating patient transfers both within Gaza and abroad for specialized medical treatment.
The WHO continues to urge Israeli authorities to allow for more medical evacuations “by all possible means to save the lives of thousands of patients in time.”
A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has partially restored humanitarian aid flows to Gaza, where more than two million residents are almost entirely dependent on aid for survival. However, medical evacuations remain severely restricted, having become extremely rare since the war on Gaza began on October 7, 2023.
Dr. Maher Shamiya, Assistant Undersecretary at Gaza’s Ministry of Health, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed:
“There are critical cases that must be prioritized for travel to continue their treatment, while stable cases are scheduled for departure according to a set timeline.
The opening of the Rafah crossing is crucial for the evacuation of patients who cannot receive treatment in Gaza, such as cancer and heart patients. Before the war, medical transfers to the West Bank were facilitated, but the war has made the process far more complicated.
Palestinian wounded and sick individuals must be prioritized for treatment, and each patient will be accompanied by one caretaker, though there are discussions about allowing more companions based on promises made to the Ministry of Health.”
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