WHO evacuates 30 Gaza patients for overseas treatment as medical transfers continue

London-The World Health Organization (WHO), with support from the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), evacuated 30 patients and 55 accompanying family members from the Gaza Strip on Tuesday for specialized medical treatment abroad, as international agencies continue efforts to transfer critically ill and injured Palestinians from the territory.

The evacuation began at the PRCS-operated Al-Mawasi field hospital in Khan Younis before the group was transported through the Rafah border crossing, according to the Palestine News Agency. The crossing is controlled by Israeli authorities on the Gaza side and by Egyptian authorities on the Egyptian side.

The latest transfer follows a series of medical evacuations that have taken place since late 2023, when hundreds of Palestinians wounded during the conflict were moved to hospitals in Egypt, Jordan and other countries for treatment.

Health infrastructure in Gaza has suffered extensive damage during the conflict, with several major hospitals rendered partially or completely inoperable after attacks and sustained damage, according to humanitarian organizations. Medical agencies have repeatedly warned that shortages of essential medicines, equipment and supplies have severely constrained the territory’s healthcare system.

Humanitarian organizations have also reported restrictions on the entry of a range of medical supplies into Gaza, including items such as anesthetics, ventilators, oxygen cylinders, surgical instruments and wheelchairs, complicating treatment for patients requiring urgent care.

The evacuation was coordinated by the WHO as part of ongoing international efforts to facilitate medical access for patients whose treatment needs cannot be met within Gaza.