85 Gaza patients moved to Abu Dhabi in biggest medical evacuation since war began

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Tuesday that 85 sick and severely injured Palestinians from Gaza, including 35 children, were evacuated to Abu Dhabi for specialized care.

The extremely complex joint evacuation was supported by the WHO in partnership with the Government of the UAE and other partners, the organization said in a statement.

The evacuated patients, suffering from severe conditions such as cancer, neurological issues, and cardiac diseases, were accompanied by 63 family members and caregivers. This is the largest number of patients that have been transferred from the Gaza Strip in a single operation since the war began.

They were transferred from Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing into Israel, and then to Ramon Airport near Eilat in southern Israel, from where they were flown to Abu Dhabi.

The evacuation was postponed from Monday and took place under "extremely challenging conditions" amid insecurity and damaged roads, the WHO said.

The medical evacuation is a significant response to Gaza's crippled medical sector, which has been devastated by a nearly 10-month long military operation. During this conflict, Israel has raided and bombed hospitals, leaving many shuttered.

Medical evacuations from Gaza have been rare since May when the Rafah crossing, the main route for medical transfers, was shut down as Israel intensified its military operations in southern Gaza. Dr. Athanasios Gargavanis, a WHO trauma surgeon and emergency officer, emphasized that the 85 evacuated individuals are just "the tip of the iceberg," with more than 10,000 people still needing medical evacuation.

"This is just the tip of the iceberg. The number of people that need to be medically evacuated outside the Gaza Strip to continue their care are more than 10,000."
Dr Athanasios Gargavanis, WHO Trauma surgeon and emergency officer

UAE's humanitarian efforts

This week the UAE, through its humanitarian initiative Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, delivered 20 tons of essential medical supplies and medications to Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, and Al Awda Hospital. This aid is crucial for continuing medical services following the collapse of Gaza's healthcare system, bringing the total aid to over 400 tons.

The medical aid includes medications for the elderly, such as those for blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol, as well as heart medications, pain relievers, antibiotics, respiratory and digestive system drugs, essential children's medications, ointments for skin diseases, and various first aid supplies.

Enhancing Gaza's healthcare capacity

Previously, Operation Chivalrous Knight 3 has supported all Gaza hospitals with medical supplies, ambulances, and equipment, enhancing hospital capacity and service quality for displaced persons. This support has been critical since the entry of medical supplies was halted due to the dire conditions in the Strip.

Since October 2023, around 5,000 people have been evacuated for treatment outside Gaza, with over 80 percent receiving care in Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE.