More than 16,500 Palestinians in Gaza urgently require medical care that is currently unavailable due to the ongoing conflict, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called on the international community to open evacuation routes and accept patients for treatment.

“We urge more countries to receive patients from Gaza as over 16,500 people still need urgent medical care that is not available in the Strip,” said Dr Tedros, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

According to Al Jazeera, in a recent humanitarian operation, WHO successfully evacuated 19 critically ill children and 93 companions from Gaza to Italy, where they will receive treatment across several hospitals.  

Dr Tedros expressed gratitude to the Italian government for its solidarity and swift response, and urged that all evacuation routes, including those from the West Bank and East Jerusalem, be opened to facilitate the safe transfer of patients.

This evacuation marks a rare moment of relief amid the devastation in Gaza, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated international medical support and safe passage for thousands still awaiting care.