GAZA, (PIC)
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed Thursday’s evacuation of 21 young patients from Gaza – the first since the key border crossing at Rafah closed on 7 May.
“Since the closure of Rafah, we did not have any medical evacuation until yesterday and these 21 children with cancer,” said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic.
But more than 10,000 patients still need medical evacuations, he added.
Specialized, lifesaving care is no longer available in Gaza, Jasarevic continued, in an appeal to evacuate the “more than 10,000 people” – including thousands of amputees – waiting to receive the medical care they need.
“We need to reopen Rafah and any other border crossing to get these people out. So, their lives, can be saved.”
For his part, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appealed for facilitated medical evacuation via all possible routes, including Rafah and Karem Abu Salem, to Egypt, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and from there to other countries when needed.
“We appeal for sustained medical evacuations and a safe, timely, transparent and organized process. These patients urgently need specialized lifesaving care, which they cannot get in Gaza.”
