WHO Urges Opening of Gaza Crossings for Medical Evacuations
UN Health Agency Seeks to Expedite Transfer of 15,000 Patients from War-torn Gaza Strip
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called on authorities to open all crossings out of the Gaza Strip into Israel and Egypt during the current ceasefire, not only for the entry of aid but also for medical evacuations.
This appeal is aimed at facilitating the evacuation of nearly 15,000 patients, including over 4,000 children, who are currently in urgent need of medical treatment outside of Gaza.Since the conflict with Israel escalated two years ago, the WHO has supported the medical evacuation of approximately 7,800 patients from Gaza.
However, since the US-brokered ceasefire took effect on October 10, only 41 critical patients have been evacuated.
Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO’s representative in the Palestinian territories, emphasized that opening medical corridors to hospitals in the West Bank and East Jerusalem would be a crucial step forward.
This route was previously used routinely before the conflict.Peeperkorn stressed that such action could significantly accelerate the evacuation process, allowing for the daily transfer of at least 50 patients.
At the current rate, it would take over a decade to evacuate all those in need of medical care, including over 700 individuals who have already died while waiting for evacuation since the conflict began.The WHO has also urged countries to increase their efforts in accepting Gazan patients for medical treatment.
While more than 20 countries have accepted patients, only a few have done so on a large scale.
The organization highlighted that only a fraction of Gaza’s health system remains operational, with just 14 out of 36 hospitals functioning partially for the territory's population exceeding two million.
This appeal is aimed at facilitating the evacuation of nearly 15,000 patients, including over 4,000 children, who are currently in urgent need of medical treatment outside of Gaza.Since the conflict with Israel escalated two years ago, the WHO has supported the medical evacuation of approximately 7,800 patients from Gaza.
However, since the US-brokered ceasefire took effect on October 10, only 41 critical patients have been evacuated.
Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO’s representative in the Palestinian territories, emphasized that opening medical corridors to hospitals in the West Bank and East Jerusalem would be a crucial step forward.
This route was previously used routinely before the conflict.Peeperkorn stressed that such action could significantly accelerate the evacuation process, allowing for the daily transfer of at least 50 patients.
At the current rate, it would take over a decade to evacuate all those in need of medical care, including over 700 individuals who have already died while waiting for evacuation since the conflict began.The WHO has also urged countries to increase their efforts in accepting Gazan patients for medical treatment.
While more than 20 countries have accepted patients, only a few have done so on a large scale.
The organization highlighted that only a fraction of Gaza’s health system remains operational, with just 14 out of 36 hospitals functioning partially for the territory's population exceeding two million.
