WHO Strives To Improve Medical Evacuation Along With Ceasefire In Gaza

JAKARTA - Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said his organization was trying to increase medical evacuation from the Gaza Strip, Palestine as the ceasefire continued.

"The WHO Medical Evacuation Program has supported the evacuation of nearly 8,000 patients, including more than 5,500 children, from Gaza for treatment in the last two years," he wrote in a post on social media X.

"More than 16,500 people, including nearly 4,000 children, are still waiting for evacuation because the damaged health facilities in Gaza cannot provide the necessary care", he continued.

The first phase of the ceasefire between the militant group Hamas and Israel has been in effect since October 10 with Egyptian, Qatar, United States and Turkey mediators, after the latest conflict broke out on October 7, 2023.

Hamas and Israel had previously agreed to a temporary ceasefire from January 19 to March 18.

"We are also calling for the opening of all evacuation routes, especially to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem," Tedros said.

He also expressed his gratitude to countries that have opened their hands and hospitals to help WHO and its partners evacuate and treat patients from Gaza.

"I feel entertained by the commitments shown by various countries to provide emergency medical care for children and adults who are seriously injured and sick outside Gaza," he said.

"WHO urges countries to accept more patients like this," Tedros said.