DaysofPal- The World Health Organization (WHO) said that more than 18,500 patients in the Gaza Strip, including around 4,000 children, are still in desperate need of urgent medical evacuation as the territory’s healthcare system continues to deteriorate.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on the social media platform X that the organization supported the medical evacuation last week of 18 patients and 36 companions from Gaza to Jordan, where they received specialized treatment for injuries, cancer, and other life-threatening diseases.
Ghebreyesus noted that since October 2023, more than 30 countries have received over 10,700 patients from Gaza for medical treatment.
“However, more than 18,500 patients, including 4,000 children, are still in urgent need of medical evacuation,” he said.
He called on more countries to open their doors to patients from Gaza and urged the resumption of medical evacuation operations to the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
In an earlier report, the WHO warned that only about half of Gaza’s health facilities are partially functioning, amid severe shortages of medicines and medical equipment.
The organization stressed the need for the immediate and unconditional entry of medical supplies to save lives.
Meanwhile, Gaza’s Ministry of Health said that more than 1,200 patients, including 155 children, have died after being unable to leave the enclave for treatment abroad.
The ministry added that the health sector is facing a 52% shortage in essential medicines, along with a major deficit in laboratory supplies.
The ministry also reported that 99% of orthopedic surgeries in Gaza’s hospitals have completely halted due to the lack of necessary tools and equipment, calling for urgent international intervention to allow the regular and unrestricted entry of medicines and laboratory supplies into the Gaza Strip.
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