World
Evacuation of Sick Children from Gaza for Medical Treatment
Learn about the efforts and challenges involved in the evacuation of sick children from Gaza for life-saving medical treatment. Discover the impact of this humanitarian mission on the lives of these vulnerable young patients.
Israel and Egypt reached an agreement to allow a group of at least 19 sick children, mostly cancer patients, to leave Gaza for urgent medical treatment on Thursday. This marks the first major evacuation of critically ill individuals from Gaza since the closure of the Rafah border crossing in early May.
The operation was conducted in coordination with the United States, Egypt, and the international community. A total of 68 people, including sick and injured patients and their escorts, were permitted to leave, as confirmed by the Israeli military.
According to the World Health Organization, over 10,000 sick and wounded individuals in Gaza require immediate medical attention that is only accessible outside the enclave. This includes individuals injured in airstrikes, cancer patients, children with life-threatening illnesses, and elderly individuals in need of specialized treatments such as open-heart surgery.
- Many Gazans had to seek lifesaving treatments abroad even before the recent conflict due to the lack of adequate medical facilities in Gaza, particularly for treatments like chemotherapy.
- The health sector in Gaza has been severely impacted for over 15 years due to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade aimed at containing Hamas.
With the Rafah crossing closed, the group of children evacuated on Thursday was transported through another border point, Kerem Shalom, before entering Egypt. However, this development does not indicate a permanent solution for critically ill individuals to leave Gaza safely.
One of the children who made the journey on Thursday was 10-month-old Sadeel Hamdan, who required a liver transplant due to severe liver failure. Her father, Tamer Hamdan, expressed relief at being able to bring Sadeel out of Gaza for treatment. However, the separation from his wife and other children left him anxious about their safety in Gaza.
Despite the challenges, the evacuation of these sick children signifies a glimmer of hope for those in Gaza in urgent need of medical care.