The World Health Organization (WHO) envoy to Gaza, Richard Brennan, stated that the closure of the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip has prevented the medical evacuation of at least two thousand patients.
According to Reuters, Brennan noted that before its closure, Rafah crossing used to facilitate the departure of nearly 50 critically ill patients daily. Since its closure on May 7th, however, approximately two thousand people have been unable to leave Gaza for necessary medical care. He highlighted that at least 10,000 individuals require evacuation from Gaza.
Brennan emphasized the urgent need to open more avenues for emergency medical evacuations, expressing hope that the Kerem Shalom crossing and other routes for medical evacuations will be opened to facilitate patients’ travel.
Just days ago, five children from northern Gaza were transferred to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in the south for treatment. Despite being on the verge of departure for treatment, they are still awaiting evacuation, according to Brennan.
Two days ago, the Ministry of Health reported that the destruction and closure of the Rafah border crossing “prevented 25,000 patients and injured individuals from traveling abroad for treatment, and hindered the entry of more than 15,000 aid trucks into the Strip.”
