14 patients and 10 caregivers were transferred earlier this week from Kamal Adwan in the northern Gaza Strip to Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City in a high-risk mission co-led by the World Health Organization. Despite the initial agreement, the supply of essential medical supplies, blood and fuel - the resources needed to keep Kamal Adwan and Al-Awda hospitals operating - was blocked just hours before the mission began.
WHO: Risky evacuation of patients from Gaza hospital
Published Oct. 25, 2024 09:14
fot. WHO
According to WHO, the mission lasted two days. The team carrying it out constantly encountered difficulties at checkpoints as a result of extensive security checks. Among other things, the team was forced to stay overnight at Kamal Adwan Hospital because it was unable to obtain permission to go to Al-Shifa Hospital. The reason for this was heavy bombing near the medical center. As a result, the mission team was only able to go to Al-Shifa Hospital on Monday around noon. On the way to Al-Shifa, all patients had to be taken out of their ambulances for security checks. This was the fourth WHO mission north of Gaza since October 1.
Kamal Adwan Hospital remains partially functional, but is struggling to meet growing needs due to the intensification of hostilities in the north and shortages of medical supplies and fuel. There are currently 95 patients in the hospital, including 15 in the intensive care unit. Seven of them are children. In the past two days, at least 200 seriously injured people and 53 bodies of the dead have been brought to the already overcrowded hospital. Access to the hospital has been hampered by damaged roads and ongoing hostilities.
The WHO reiterates its call for unrestricted access to health facilities, reliable and timely facilitation of missions, a steady flow of aid to and through Gaza, protection of health care, and above all, a ceasefire.
compiled. based on: WHO
