The World Health Organization (WHO) reported today the largest medical evacuation from Gaza since October 7, and stated that at least a quarter of those injured in the conflict suffered life-changing injuries.
WHO stated yesterday that it and its allies moved 97 sick and badly injured Palestinian patients to Abu Dhabi for specialised care. Rik Peeperkorn, WHO's representative for the Palestinian territories, told reporters that this was the largest evacuation from Gaza since October 2023. The patients, who included 45 youngsters, were suffering from a variety of ailments, including cancer, as well as acute wounds and other injuries.
The evacuation operation was a testament to the collaborative efforts of international aid organizations and local medical staff. Despite the ongoing conflict, medical professionals worked tirelessly to ensure the safe transport of these critically ill patients. The success of this mission highlights the crucial role of humanitarian aid in conflict zones and the importance of international cooperation in times of crisis.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO chief, praised the success of a difficult operation despite challenges and insecurity. The patients and 155 companions were transported from four places in Gaza to a hospital in the heart of the enclave before being flown to Abu Dhabi.
According to WHO, extracting patients from remote northern Gaza proved particularly difficult. "We had a very small window," Peeperkorn explained. The patients were among the more than 10,000 persons assessed by the WHO to require urgent medical evacuation.
The staggering number of individuals in need of medical evacuation underscores the severe humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. The ongoing conflict has not only resulted in immediate casualties but has also created a long-term health crisis that will require sustained international support. Medical experts warn that the lack of adequate healthcare infrastructure and resources in Gaza could lead to a secondary health crisis, with treatable conditions becoming life-threatening due to the lack of proper care.
According to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, Israel's reprisal strike following the Hamas rebel attack on October 7 has killed at least 41,118 Palestinians and injured over 95,000.
According to an AFP calculation based on official Israeli data, the Hamas attack inside Israel that triggered the war killed 1,205 people, the majority of whom were civilians. Hostages were also slain in captivity.
WHO announced today that at least a quarter of all individuals wounded in the battle up to July 23 had suffered life-altering injuries, with many requiring amputations and other extensive rehabilitation that would take years to complete.
And now, Peeperkorn estimates that a quarter of all those injured is closer to 24,000. According to WHO, thousands of women and children were severely hurt, with many suffering multiple injuries. It projected that there had been between 13,455 and 17,550 serious limb injuries, which were the primary cause of the requirement for rehabilitation.
The study stated that between 3,105 and 4,050 limbs had been amputated. Other life-altering traumas include a spinal cord damage, a traumatic brain injury, and severe burns, it stated.
The long-term implications of these injuries are profound, not only for the individuals affected but for the entire Gaza community. Rehabilitation experts emphasize that the road to recovery for many of these patients will be long and challenging. The need for specialized medical equipment, prosthetics, and ongoing physical therapy will place an enormous strain on an already overwhelmed healthcare system. Furthermore, the psychological impact of these injuries on patients and their families cannot be understated, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive mental health support in the region.
Peeperkorn noted that the massive increase in rehabilitation needs coincides with the continuous devastation of the health-care system. Only 17 of Gaza's 36 hospitals are now even partially operational, and primary healthcare services are routinely suspended or inaccessible owing to insecurity, violence, and multiple evacuation orders.
Gaza's only limb restoration and rehabilitation clinic, located in the Nasser Medical Complex and supported by WHO, halted operations last December due to a lack of materials and qualified health professionals.
Tragically, majority of Gaza's rehabilitation personnel has been relocated, according to WHO, which also cited reports of 39 physiotherapists murdered in Gaza as of May 10.
According to Peeperkorn, patients cannot receive the necessary care. Acute rehabilitation services are badly interrupted, and expert care for complex injuries is not accessible, putting patients' lives in danger, he claims.
The loss of healthcare professionals, particularly specialists like physiotherapists, represents a significant blow to Gaza's ability to recover from this crisis. The brain drain of medical expertise will have long-lasting effects on the region's healthcare capacity. International medical organizations are calling for urgent measures to protect healthcare workers in conflict zones and to provide incentives for medical professionals to return or remain in Gaza. Some experts suggest the establishment of mobile medical units and telemedicine services as potential solutions to bridge the gap in healthcare provision.
Immediate and long-term assistance is desperately required to meet the tremendous rehabilitation demands.
