News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/31st July 2024
In a significant humanitarian effort, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) successfully evacuated 85 critically ill and severely injured patients from Gaza to Abu Dhabi for specialized medical care. This complex operation represents the largest medical evacuation from Gaza since October 2023 and highlights the critical need for regional solidarity in addressing health crises.
Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, expressed profound gratitude towards the UAE for their pivotal role in this evacuation. She emphasized that this operation exemplifies the essential intra-regional support required to address urgent medical needs. Dr. Balkhy also urged other member states to contribute to this effort by receiving and caring for more patients, as thousands in Gaza continue to suffer without access to advanced medical treatment.
The evacuated patients comprised 35 children and 50 adults, each requiring various forms of medical attention. Among them, 53 individuals were battling cancer, including 4 children. Additionally, 20 patients had suffered trauma injuries, 3 had blood disorders such as thalassemia, and 3 were born with congenital conditions. Other conditions included Fanconi anemia, neurological disorders, cardiac disease, liver disease, and renal failure. The evacuation also saw 63 family members and caregivers accompanying the patients.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, acknowledged the critical support from the UAE and hoped that this effort would encourage the establishment of additional evacuation corridors. He stressed the importance of continuing to evacuate patients via available routes, including Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings to Egypt and Jordan, and urged for the restoration of evacuations to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Dr. Ghebreyesus also reiterated the call for a ceasefire to alleviate the suffering of countless individuals.
Originally set for July 29, the evacuation faced delays, complicating the operation and straining resources. Despite challenging conditions such as damaged infrastructure and security risks, the WHO team managed to coordinate the transfer of patients from various locations in Gaza to the Kerem Shalom crossing. This effort involved moving patients under strenuous circumstances to ensure their timely transfer to the airport.
Prior to the main evacuation, on July 27, WHO and its partners transferred nine patients from northern Gaza to the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) field hospital in Deir al-Balah for stabilization. Patients from five locations in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis were also gathered for the evacuation. Critically injured individuals already at the departure point were provided care at the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) field hospital, with WHO and the International Medical Corps supporting the setup of medical supplies, electricity, and sanitation facilities.
Throughout the evacuation process, WHO ensured patient safety by providing wheelchairs, food, water, medical support, and thorough documentation. The operation involved meticulous planning, with patients being transferred in buses organized by WHO from the crossing to the airport.
This evacuation is part of a broader effort that has seen approximately 5,000 people evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment since October 2023, with over 80% receiving care in Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE. Despite these efforts, more than 10,000 individuals in Gaza still require evacuation. The WHO continues to advocate for increased international efforts to facilitate organized and timely medical evacuations to address the ongoing humanitarian needs in the region.
