WHO chief says Gaza medical evacuation needs ‘immense and growing’

More than 18,500 patients, including 4,000 children, are currently waiting to leave the Gaza Strip for urgent specialised medical care amid “immense and growing” need for medical evacuations, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

On Monday, the WHO evacuated 25 people and 92 companions out of Gaza to countries including Belgium, Italy, Norway and Romania, Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on social media.

“The number of people needing medical evacuation has been increasing," Tedros said

“The increase is partly because people previously unable to reach health facilities due to the insecurity are now able to present to hospitals for medical assessment, and consideration for evacuation for health care,” he added.

The chief also called for more countries to take patients from Gaza and for medical evacuations to the occupied West Bank to be restored.