The World Health Organization (WHO) says over 16,500 people, including nearly 4,000 children, are still waiting to be evacuated from Gaza for urgent medical treatment as hospitals across the enclave remain severely damaged and unable to provide adequate care.
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency’s medical evacuation programme has helped transfer nearly 8,000 patients for treatment outside Gaza over the past two years.
He called for the reopening of all evacuation routes, particularly to the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, adding that the WHO is working to scale up medical evacuations as a fragile ceasefire still holds.
The post by Tedros reads: “I am heartened by the commitment shown by countries to provide seriously injured and ill children and adults with urgent medical care outside of Gaza. WHO’s Medical Evacuation programme has supported the evacuation of close to 8000 patients, including over 5500 children, from Gaza for treatment in the past two years. We are grateful to countries that have opened their arms and hospitals to help @WHO and partners evacuate and treat patients from Gaza. As the ceasefire holds, WHO is working to scale up medical evacuations. Over 16,500 people, including close to 4000 children, are still awaiting evacuation as Gaza’s damaged health facilities cannot provide the needed care. WHO urges countries to receive more of these patients. We also call for the opening of all evacuation routes, particularly to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.”
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