DaysofPal- Local sources reported on Thursday morning the death of a child, Jalal al-Qatash, from the Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, after his travel for treatment abroad was delayed. He had been suffering from a rare condition known as epidermolysis bullosa and lacked access to the medication required for his care.
Epidermolysis bullosa is a rare genetic disease that causes extreme skin fragility, leading to painful blisters and wounds from even minor contact. Patients require continuous medical attention and specialized treatment to manage symptoms and prevent serious complications.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that approximately 19,000 patients in Gaza currently require urgent medical evacuation to receive treatment abroad.
Among those in critical need are nearly 4,000 children suffering from severe illnesses that cannot be treated within the local healthcare system.
Ongoing restrictions have caused the number of medical transfers to plummet. During some periods, the rate of successful evacuations dropped by 80% compared to previous years. This sharp decline has turned the search for medical care into a matter of life or death for thousands of residents.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that over 20,000 patients have legitimate medical referrals for care outside the country. Despite holding these official documents, they remain trapped and unable to leave.
The death of Jalal al-Qatsh highlights the lethal consequences of these Israeli travel barriers. For many patients, especially children with rare or chronic conditions, the wait for permission to cross the border often outlasts their ability to survive without advanced medical intervention.
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