Around 9,000 patients need to be urgently removed from Gaza

The Gaza Strip currently has around 9,000 patients who need to be urgently transferred from the region, according to the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, this Saturday (30).

Israel’s recurring bombings and actions in the region, including in hospitals, have created a calamitous situation, in which people who are already sick are added to the injured and others who are falling ill due to the worsening health situation and severe malnutrition resulting from the attacks.

“Around 9,000 patients must be urgently moved abroad so they can benefit from vital health services, particularly for the treatment of cancer, bombing injuries, kidney dialysis and other chronic illnesses,” wrote the director-general. in your networks.

Read too: Itamaraty supports precautionary measures by the Hague Court against hunger in Gaza

According to the WHO, before the attacks, the Gaza Strip had 36 medical centers to serve the population. In the north of the region alone, 20 of the 22 hospitals were totally or partially destroyed by the beginning of this year. Israel has alleged that health institutions were being used to hide Hamas militants.

To date, more than 3,000 patients have been transferred from Gaza to other countries, according to Tedros. However, he added, “much more needs to be removed. We urge Israel to speed up approval of the removals so that critical patients can be cared for.”

On Thursday (28), the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Israel to allow humanitarian aid access to the region, as a way of mitigating the suffering caused by the serious food vulnerability affecting the population.

The Court’s measure is part of the process initiated by South Africa against Israel, based on the Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.

In the decision, the ICJ highlighted that “the catastrophic living conditions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have deteriorated even further, particularly in the face of prolonged and widespread deprivation of food and other basic needs”.

Since the attacks began in October, there have been more than 32,500 deaths and 75,000 injuries. The numbers do not include around eight thousand bodies that, according to local authorities, may be under the rubble of buildings and constructions destroyed during Israel’s actions. Furthermore, according to UN observers, at least 31 people, of which 27 were children, died from malnutrition or dehydration.

With agencies

(PL)