Gaza City – A staggering 1,092 patients in the Gaza Strip have died while awaiting critical medical evacuation between July 2024 and November 28th, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The deaths are attributed to the ongoing Israeli blockade and the devastating conflict in the region.
The alarming figure, revealed by Rik Peeperkorn, WHO Representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, at a UN briefing in New York, was sourced from health authorities within Gaza. Peeperkorn cautioned that the actual death toll is likely higher, as the reported number only reflects documented fatalities.
The WHO has urgently appealed for increased international assistance, urging more countries to accept patients from Gaza and advocating for the resumption of medical evacuations to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
The healthcare system within Gaza is on the brink of collapse. According to the WHO, only 18 out of 36 hospitals are partially functional, and 43% of primary healthcare centers are operating at reduced capacity. A severe shortage of essential medicines and medical supplies, crucial for treating cardiac and other chronic diseases, is further exacerbating the crisis.
While the approval rate for aid shipments to Gaza has reportedly improved, Peeperkorn emphasized that the process of delivering vital medications and medical equipment remains unnecessarily slow and complex.
Earlier this month, Doctors Without Borders called on the international community to facilitate the medical evacuation of tens of thousands of Gazan residents in dire need of specialized care, highlighting that hundreds had already perished while waiting.
The WHO estimates that over 8,000 patients have been evacuated from Gaza since the start of the conflict in October 2023. However, a staggering 16,500 patients still require urgent medical treatment outside of the besieged territory. The situation demands immediate and comprehensive action to prevent further loss of life.
