WHO welcomes 1st medical evacuations since Rafah closure, urging 'more needs to be done'

GENEVA The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday welcomed the first medical evacuation of 21 children with cancer from Gaza since Rafah closure in early May, arguing that "more needs to be done." There are more than 10,000 people who need to be evacuated and receive medical care outside of Gaza, spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic told a UN press briefing in Geneva. Jasarevic said 6,000 of them have trauma, and more than 2,000 also have chronic diseases.

"Since the closure of Rafah, we did not have any medical evacuation until yesterday, at least 21 children with cancer," he said, and urged: "We need to reopen Rafah and any other border crossing to get these people out so their lives can be saved. We really need to advocate for a resumption of medical evocations. "What happened yesterday is welcome, but more needs to be done," he stressed.

WHO chief Tedros Ghebreyesus also welcomed the evacuations in an X post, and said: "We appeal for facilitated medical evacuation via all possible routes, including Rafah and Karem Shalom, to Egypt, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and from there to other countries when needed." "We appeal for sustained medical evacuations and a safe, timely, transparent and organized process," Tedros said, underlining that these patients "urgently need" specialized lifesaving care. Every day in Gaza situation is 'worst it's ever been' A senior communications officer of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, participating virtually in the UN briefing from Centra.