WHO helps in evacuations of thousands of patients from Gaza

(MENAFN) The World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday that nearly 8,000 patients have been evacuated from Gaza over the past two years for urgent medical care abroad, though thousands remain stranded as local health services continue to struggle.

"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 Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on social media. He noted that the evacuation program has aided almost 8,000 patients, including over 5,500 children.

Tedros thanked the nations that "opened their arms and hospitals" to receive patients but emphasized that urgent needs persist. "Over 16,500 people, including close to 4000 children, are still awaiting evacuation as Gaza's damaged health facilities cannot provide the needed care," he said.

With the ceasefire currently holding, WHO is working to increase medical evacuations and coordinate treatment for critical cases outside Gaza. Tedros called on more countries to accept patients and urged the opening of "all evacuation routes, particularly to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem."

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