The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Tuesday called on member states and humanitarian organizations to increase the reception of patients from the Gaza Strip amid a worsening health and humanitarian crisis.
The Office noted that more than 18,500 patients are still awaiting medical evacuation, calling for the immediate resumption of medical referrals to the West Bank, including East al-Quds.
Last Sunday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that approximately 6,000 wounded individuals urgently require evacuation through the Rafah crossing. The ministry warned that these critical cases demand immediate action, as lives remain at risk without urgent intervention.
The ministry further emphasized that the current evacuation mechanism is insufficient, noting that at the present rate, it would take years to evacuate all those in need. It stressed the necessity of evacuating at least 500 patients per day to alleviate suffering and ensure access to essential care.
Meanwhile, Palestinian health institutions and civil society organizations have called for the effective operation of the Rafah land crossing. They urged the removal of obstacles imposed by the occupation on movement at the border to allow patients and the wounded to travel freely for treatment.
According to media sources, officials from these institutions stated that clear criteria and transparent procedures regarding travel and access arrangements at the crossing point are still severely lacking.
