GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded an urgent alarm, stating that approximately 9,000 Palestinian patients in the Gaza Strip are in critical need of emergency evacuation for life-saving medical care. Amid the devastating Israeli military offensive, Gaza is left with just 10 barely functioning hospitals, exacerbating the already dire healthcare situation in the war-torn Palestinian territory.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed grave concern over the lack of adequate healthcare facilities, highlighting the drastic decline from the pre-war count of 36 hospitals in Gaza. The ongoing Israeli violence has inflicted extensive damage on healthcare infrastructure, leaving thousands of patients without access to essential medical services.
According to Tedros, the patients requiring urgent evacuation include those in need of treatment for cancer, injuries sustained from Israeli bombardments, kidney dialysis, and other chronic conditions. This figure marks an increase from the WHO’s previous assessment in March, underscoring the escalating humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
The relentless bombing campaign by Israel, coupled with violent ground combat, has further strained Gaza’s healthcare system. Hospitals, already overwhelmed with patients, are also serving as shelters for thousands displaced by the Israeli bombardment.
Compounding the situation, Gaza remains under an almost complete blockade, hindering the delivery of humanitarian aid desperately needed by its 2.4 million inhabitants. Despite calls for increased assistance from the United Nations and NGOs, Israel has faced criticism for imposing stringent inspections, allegedly obstructing the flow of essential supplies into the territory.
Since the start of the Israeli bombardment on October 7, the death toll in Gaza has soared, with at least 32,705 Palestinians, mostly women and children, losing their lives, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Tedros emphasized the urgent need for Israel to expedite approvals for patient evacuations, stressing that every moment is critical in saving lives.
Prior to the war, Gaza relied on transferring 50 to 100 patients daily to East Jerusalem or the West Bank for medical treatment, with half of them seeking cancer care. However, the current conflict has severely disrupted these vital healthcare pathways, leaving thousands of vulnerable patients in Gaza at risk of dire consequences without immediate intervention.
