85 Gaza residents arrive in Abu Dhabi for medical treatment
WHO and UAE facilitate major medical evacuation
In a critical humanitarian effort, 85 patients from Gaza, including 35 children and 50 adults, have been evacuated to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) for specialised medical care.
The evacuation, executed on July 30, 2024, marks the most significant medical evacuation from Gaza since October 2023 and represents an essential collaborative effort by the World Health Organization (WHO), the UAE government, and various humanitarian partners.
Gaza residents have been caught in a vicious circle of violence after Hamas and its affiliates raided Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in Israeli retaliation for the unprecedented attacks.
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The patients who were transferred from Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing to Ramon Airport in Israel include individuals suffering from severe medical conditions such as cancer, trauma injuries, blood diseases, congenital disorders, and other critical health issues.
Specifically, 53 patients are battling cancer, including four children, while others have conditions ranging from trauma injuries and blood diseases to congenital disorders like Fanconi anaemia and neurological conditions.
Logistical challenges
Initially scheduled for July 29, 204, the evacuation encountered delays due to logistical challenges and the complex security situation in Gaza; despite these obstacles, WHO teams managed the intricate transfer of patients from various locations within Gaza to the Kerem Shalom crossing. After undergoing security checks, The patients were transported by buses organised by WHO to the airport.
Before the primary evacuation, WHO and partners had already transferred nine critically ill patients on July 27 from northern Gaza to the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) field hospital in Deir al-Balah for stabilisation.
Additional patients were picked up from Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis. Having been relocated to the final departure point in the south, some critically injured individuals were accommodated at the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) field hospital in Deir al-Balah. WHO coordinated providing medical supplies, electricity, safe water, and sanitation facilities as the hospital was set up.
Wheelchairs provided
During the evacuation, WHO ensured patients were provided with wheelchairs for safe transport between buses at the Kerem Shalom crossing.
The organisation also arranged access to food, water, and medical professionals throughout the journey within Gaza and en route to the airport. Support also came from other emergency medical teams, including Cadus and International Medical Corps, MSF Belgium and PRCS.
Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said: “I am immensely grateful to the United Arab Emirates for evacuating sick and severely injured patients from Gaza and providing them with lifesaving medical care.
“This initiative demonstrates the urgent need for intra-regional solidarity. Support for people in the region must start from the region. Thousands more inside Gaza remain at risk without access to advanced medical care.”
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, added, “We are thankful to the UAE for supporting the evacuation of these patients so they can receive the urgent care they need.
“We hope this paves the way for establishing evacuation corridors via all routes, including the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings to Egypt and Jordan and from there to other countries. We also call for evacuations to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, to be restored. Thousands of sick people are suffering needlessly. And as always, we call for a ceasefire.”
Since October 2023, approximately 5,000 individuals have been evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment, with over 80% receiving care in Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE.
Over 10,000 people in Gaza still require medical evacuation. This latest evacuation follows previous operations to Spain and Belgium from Cairo, also coordinated by WHO, with 20 patients having been transported to these countries in recent days.
WHO continues to urge the international community to intensify efforts to ensure safe, sustained, and timely medical evacuations, stressing the urgent need for coordinated and organised efforts to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Featured image: The evacuation, executed on July 30, 2024, marks the most significant medical evacuation from Gaza since October 2023. Credit: WHO
Last Updated on 4 months by News Desk 2
