WHO Reports Evacuation of Gaza Patients to Egypt, Thousands Still Waiting for Their Turn

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported significant progress in medical evacuation efforts, with the reopening of the Rafah crossing allowing the transfer of patients from Gaza to Egypt. In the first phase of this operation, five patients accompanied by seven healthcare professionals have been successfully relocated through the border route to medical facilities in Egypt.

First Wave of Patient Evacuations to Egypt

According to reports from RTHK, the reopening of the Rafah crossing marks a crucial breakthrough in this humanitarian mission. The successful transfer of these initial five patients signifies the operationalization of a medical evacuation route long awaited by thousands of sufferers. The healthcare workers accompanying the patients ensure that medical standards are maintained throughout the journey to Egypt, reflecting WHO’s commitment to patient safety and comfort in emergency conditions.

Massive Medical Burden: Thousands of Patients in Long Queues

Currently, the challenges faced are much greater than what has been realized. WHO data indicates that more than 18,500 patients are still waiting to be relocated to Egypt and other medical facilities. These patients suffer from various serious health conditions, including conflict-related injuries, chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes, and other urgent medical conditions requiring specialist care unavailable in their current locations.

Limitations in transfer capacity and the complexity of international coordination are major obstacles to accelerating evacuations. Prioritizing the most critical cases is a difficult decision that Gaza health authorities must make when allocating limited transfer slots.

Special Focus on Child Protection

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) emphasizes the humanitarian dimension of this crisis, revealing that more than 3,000 of the waiting patients are children. This pediatric population requires special medical and psychological attention given the trauma they have endured. Evacuating to Egypt offers hope for access to more comprehensive pediatric care and a more stable environment for recovery.

Coordination between WHO, UNICEF, and Gaza health authorities continues to establish fair and transparent medical priority scales. Each transfer decision must consider medical urgency, patient health status, and the capabilities of receiving facilities in Egypt and other locations to ensure the best outcomes for each relocated patient.