The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the successful evacuation of 38 critically ill patients from Gaza. The agency urged more countries to step forward and provide lifesaving treatment while also restoring medical referral routes that have been disrupted by the ongoing conflict.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the evacuation, supported by the European Union's humanitarian arm ECHO, included 32 children and six adults. They were accompanied by 99 family members to ensure proper support during the transfer.

According to Tedros, 25 children and six adults have been transported to Italy for advanced treatment. Additionally, five children were moved to Belgium, while two children were flown to Türkiye to receive specialized medical care unavailable in Gaza.

"We thank @eu_echo and all governments that have shown solidarity with Gaza's critical patients by offering them specialised care," Tedros shared on the social media platform X, highlighting international cooperation in this humanitarian effort.

Despite these evacuations, the situation remains severe. WHO reports that more than 14,800 patients in Gaza still urgently need medical treatment that cannot be provided locally due to the collapse of health services and damage to medical facilities.

Tedros called on more countries to help and stressed the urgent need to restore medical referral routes to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. "We must act before it is too late," he said, warning that delays could cost many lives as medical needs in Gaza continue to grow daily.

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