WHO: Over 1,000 Palestinians Die in Gaza Amid Medical Evacuation Delays
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 1,000 Palestinians have reportedly died in the Gaza Strip while awaiting medical evacuation permits from Israeli authorities from July 2024 to late November of the current year.
Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization’s representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, informed journalists at the United Nations headquarters in New York that 1,092 patients had died within the specified timeframe, according to data provided by health authorities in Gaza.
He highlighted that the reported figure may be underestimated and not fully comprehensive, given that it accounts only for documented fatalities.
Peeperkorn stated that the World Health Organization has urged additional nations to accommodate patients from Gaza and to resume medical evacuation operations to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Peeperkorn reported that half of the hospitals, amounting to 18 out of 36, and 43 percent of primary healthcare centers in Gaza are operating at a limited capacity. This has led to a critical shortage of essential medications and medical supplies, particularly those needed for treating heart disease and other conditions.
Despite an increase in the approval rates for shipments heading to Gaza, he noted that the procedure for delivering medicines and medical equipment to the enclave continues to be “slow and unnecessarily complicated.”
Peeperkorn highlighted ongoing difficulties faced by the World Health Organization in transporting laboratory reagents and essential lab machine components into Gaza. These challenges arise as numerous items have been denied entry under the classification of dual-use goods.
He urged Israeli authorities to grant “a blanket approval” for the entry of medical supplies into Gaza, emphasizing the immediate necessity to address urgent needs.
Peeperkorn stated that Storm Byron has hit Gaza with significant force, exacerbating the hardships faced by families already displaced in the region.
He emphasized that the combination of winter conditions and inadequate water and sanitation is likely to lead to an increase in acute respiratory infections, as well as hepatitis and diarrheal illnesses.
Peeperkorn cautioned that children, the elderly, and individuals with chronic health conditions continue to face the highest risk.
Following the commencement of the Gaza ceasefire on October 10, the Israeli military has reportedly violated the accord on multiple occasions, leading to the fatalities of at least 386 Palestinians and injuries to 1,018 individuals.
Israeli assaults on Gaza have resulted in the deaths of over 70,300 individuals, predominantly women and children, and have injured more than 171,000 since October 2023. These operations have continued despite the declaration of a ceasefire.
