Gaza: More than 18,500 people in the Gaza Strip, including at least 4,000 children, still require evacuation for medical treatment unavailable in the territory, the World Health Organization said Wednesday. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the critical need for medical evacuations, highlighting the organization’s recent efforts.
According to Anadolu Agency, the World Health Organization supported the evacuation of 21 patients from Gaza to Jordan on Jan. 19, accompanied by 36 relatives. Tedros expressed gratitude to Jordan for its ongoing cooperation in facilitating these evacuations. However, he noted that thousands of patients remain trapped in Gaza due to the enclave’s deteriorating health system, exacerbated by Israel’s military actions, shortages of medicine and fuel, and substantial damage to medical facilities.
Tedros also acknowledged a recent development where a patient from Gaza was permitted to travel to the occupied West Bank following a Jerusalem District Court ruling. He described this as a positive step towards reopening the medical evacuation route to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, which is considered the most efficient route with hospitals prepared to receive patients.
According to Israeli military data, Israel maintains control over Gaza’s southern and eastern buffer zones and large areas in the north, overseeing more than half of the territory. Despite a ceasefire, Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of 483 Palestinians and injuries to 1,287 others. The entry of essential supplies such as food, shelter materials, and medical supplies into Gaza faces severe restrictions, affecting the living conditions of approximately 2.4 million Palestinians.
Since the commencement of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza on Oct. 8, 2023, more than 71,000 Palestinians have been killed, and over 171,000 wounded, predominantly women and children. The United Nations reports that around 90% of civilian infrastructure has been destroyed, with reconstruction costs anticipated to be approximately $70 billion.