The World Health Organization (WHO) has once again sounded the alarm over the dire situation facing patients in Gaza, where thousands urgently require medical evacuation for life-saving treatment. However, despite repeated calls for action, the pace of evacuations remains frustratingly slow, raising concerns about the worsening humanitarian crisis.

Since October 2023, only 5,383 patients have been evacuated with the support of WHO, and the closure of the Rafah crossing has further impeded efforts, with only 436 patients successfully transported since then. This slow rate of evacuation poses a significant threat to over 12,000 critically ill individuals, including thousands of children, who remain stranded in Gaza without adequate medical care. At the current pace, it could take between five to ten years to evacuate all those in need, during which time many will see their conditions deteriorate, and some will not survive.

On December 31, 2024, a group of 55 patients and 72 companions were evacuated to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros expressed gratitude to the UAE government for its continued support, highlighting that the country has facilitated the medical evacuation of over 1,200 patients so far. Additionally, other nations, including Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, Algeria, Italy, Romania, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Tunisia, Oman, Jordan, and the United States, have contributed to medical evacuations and healthcare support.

Despite these international efforts, the crisis persists, with too many lives still at risk. WHO has called upon Israel to take immediate action to alleviate the suffering of Gaza’s critically ill patients. Specifically, the organization urges Israel to increase the approval rate for medical evacuations, ensuring that no child patient is denied access to treatment. Additionally, WHO is pressing for an expedited approval process and the opening of all possible corridors and border crossings to facilitate safe and swift medical evacuations.

Beyond Israel’s role, WHO is also appealing to all countries to contribute by receiving patients and offering specialized medical care. By doing so, the international community can help prevent further unnecessary suffering and loss of life.

As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to unfold, WHO’s latest plea underscores the urgent need for accelerated medical evacuations and stronger international cooperation. Without immediate and decisive action, thousands more patients will face preventable deaths due to lack of access to essential medical treatment.