Lifeline for Gaza: Sixteen Evacuated to Spain for Urgent Medical Treatment

Image Credit, WHO

Sixteen individuals from Gaza, facing severe medical challenges, have been granted a lifeline as they arrive in Spain today to receive crucial medical care. This urgent evacuation, facilitated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and several partners, includes fifteen children aged 3 to 17 and the mother of one child who also requires medical treatment. These patients had been in Egyptian hospitals for several months after fleeing Gaza, highlighting the dire need for specialized medical care that remains inaccessible within their homeland.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, expressed deep gratitude for the collaborative efforts that made this possible. “These very sick children will be getting the care they need thanks to cooperation between several partners and countries. We are immensely grateful for the support and facilitation provided by Egypt and Spain. We encourage other countries who have the capacity and medical facilities to welcome people who, through no fault of their own, are caught in the grips of this war.”

The medical conditions of these children are complex and severe: thirteen suffer from extensive injuries, one battles a chronic heart condition, and another faces cancer. Accompanied by 25 family members and caregivers, these children had been stranded in Egypt since early May, a period marked by the near impossibility of further evacuations due to the closure of the Rafah crossing. Only a handful of people have managed to escape Gaza since then, utilizing the Kerem Shalom crossing.

Since October 2023, approximately 5,000 individuals have been evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment, with the majority receiving care in Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. However, around 10,000 more are in urgent need of evacuation.

“These children are just the tip of the iceberg,” emphasized Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “Thousands of people of all ages still remain in Gaza who need to be medically evacuated and are at risk of dying if they are unable to quickly access the advanced medical care they need. Patients who need evacuation outside of the Gaza Strip must be able to exit, preferably to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, but also to Egypt or Jordan and then onwards.”

Today’s successful evacuation to Spain was orchestrated through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in collaboration with WHO. The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund played a pivotal role in managing the documentation and evacuation approvals, while the Government of Egypt ensured the patients received the necessary care during their stay. Spain has now taken up the mantle, providing comprehensive support and treatment across various hospitals.

Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, expressed profound appreciation for Spain’s prompt and compassionate response. “We are truly thankful to Spain, a WHO/Europe Member State, for having responded so willingly to our request to accept several children from Gaza for critical treatment, a template for other countries to follow. Gracias, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Health Minister Monica Garcia, and all who have made this possible. Indeed, ‘to save one child, one life, is to save humankind’ is a concept recognizing the interconnectedness of all humanity.”

The WHO continues to urge the establishment of multiple medical evacuation corridors to ensure the safe and timely passage of patients through all available routes, including Rafah and Kerem Shalom. The restoration of medical evacuations from Gaza to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, remains a top priority, as these areas are equipped to handle the influx of patients. Transfers to Egypt and Jordan should also be facilitated, with the potential for further relocation to other countries as needed.

Dr. Tedros underscored the importance of such solidarity amidst the ongoing conflict. “The fact that severely ill people are receiving needed medical care should not be headline news, but routine global cooperation. The solidarity of the host countries is a bright spot in a war that has had so many moments of tragedy.”

Ultimately, WHO reiterates its call for the cessation of hostilities, as peace is the surest path to health and well-being for all.