Gaza: Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced that the organization had led an emergency medical evacuation of 41 critically ill patients. In a post on the X platform, Ghebreyesus stated that around 15,000 patients are still waiting for approval to receive medical care outside Gaza. He emphasized the need for countries to demonstrate solidarity and for all routes to be opened to expedite the medical evacuation process.
According to Qatar News Agency, many of the patients suffer from direct injuries due to the Israeli war on Gaza, while others have chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. The current state of Gaza’s health system is unable to adequately address these conditions. The WHO previously reported that approximately 15,600 patients in Gaza are awaiting evacuation, including 3,800 children.
The Rafah crossing, which was previously used for patient evacuations via Egypt, remains closed to traffic, complicating efforts to transport patients in need of urgent care.