Israel WHO plans evacuation of 100 patients from Gaza Strip

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the first medical evacuation transport in around five weeks is imminent in the Gaza Strip. More than 100 war-wounded and chronically ill people are to be taken out of the embattled coastal strip on Wednesday, according to the UN organization. Initially, the patients are to reach Egypt via the southern border crossing Kerem Shalom and Israel. Most of them will be flown to the United Arab Emirates, said Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO representative in the Palestinian territories, in a video link. Around 30 people would be transported to Romania.

WHO calls for permanent evacuations instead of ad hoc actions

Since the closure of the border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt in Rafah at the beginning of May, only 282 patients have been brought from the Gaza Strip, reported Peeperkorn. However, between 12,000 and 14,000 other patients suffering from burns, spinal injuries, amputations or cancer, among other things, also had to be treated abroad, he said.

Instead of sporadic evacuations, permanent transports with appropriate safety guarantees must be set up, he appealed to Israel. "We can't go on like this," said the WHO representative.