8,000 patients need evacuation from Gaza: WHO

The World Health Organisation has said that an estimated 8,000 patients need evacuation out of the Gaza Strip and voiced frustration that few have so far been transferred outside the besieged territory.

The WHO further said that moving such patients out of Gaza would relieve some of the strain on the medics and hospitals, which are struggling to keep functioning in the besieged enclave.

Addressing a press conference in Jerusalem via video-link, WHO representative in Palestine Rik Peeperkorn said that we estimate that 8,000 Gazans need to be referred outside Gaza. Out of 8,000, 6,000 are related to the conflict, including patients with multiple trauma injuries, burns and amputations. He continued that other 2,000 are regular patients. He noted that before the conflict began, 50 to 100 patients a day were referred from Gaza to East Jerusalem and the West Bank, of which around half were cancer patients.