WHO Chief Says More Than 18,500 Patients Need Urgent Medical Evacuation from Gaza
JAKARTA - The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed on Monday that more than 18,500 people still need urgent medical evacuation from the Gaza Strip, Palestine, urging countries to open their doors to more patients.
"Last week, WHO supported the medical evacuation of 18 patients and 36 companions from Gaza to Jordan, for trauma care and treatment of cancer, digestive disorders, kidney, immunology, and other serious conditions," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a post on the social media platform X, reported Anadolu (13/1).
Expressing gratitude to Jordan for its continued solidarity and for its willingness to accept patients in need of this life-saving medical treatment, he said: "Since October 2023, more than 10,700 patients have been evacuated from Gaza for specialized treatment in more than 30 countries. However, more than 18,500 people, including 4,000 children, are still in dire need of medical evacuation."
"WHO calls on more countries to open their doors to patients from Gaza and for evacuations to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to be restored," he said.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian media WAFA on Tuesday reported that the number of deaths due to Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip has risen to 71,424, while 171,324 others have been injured since the start of the attack on October 7, 2023.
A number of victims are still trapped under the rubble and on the streets, because the ambulance and rescue teams have not been able to reach them.
The source also revealed that the total number of deaths since the ceasefire on October 11 had increased to 447 people, while the total number of injured was 1,246, with 697 bodies found.
They also noted the death of a one-year-old child due to extreme cold weather, bringing the number of child deaths due to cold weather since the beginning of winter to seven.
In addition, three civilians died due to the collapse of the building, bringing the total number of victims of building collapses to 24.