The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday that 17 patients from Gaza have been evacuated to Jordan for urgent specialized medical treatment.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed the evacuations via a statement on social media, highlighting the critical need for timely access to healthcare for thousands of patients in Gaza.

“Six of the patients require cancer treatment, and 11 need treatment for war injuries,” said Tedros. The group was accompanied by 17 relatives or caregivers to support their journey and recovery.

Additionally, 12 of the evacuated patients are expected to continue their treatment in the United States, underscoring the international effort to address the severe healthcare crisis in Gaza.

Tedros emphasized the pressing need for smoother and more frequent medical evacuations, noting that at least 12,000 patients in Gaza require urgent specialized healthcare outside the territory. He also called for the consistent use of humanitarian corridors to expedite the process.

“We urge for all corridors from Gaza to be utilized to ensure medical evacuations can happen smoothly and quickly — thousands of patients are still waiting for specialist health care,” he stated.

The WHO chief also expressed concern over the limited frequency of medical evacuations, particularly since the closure of the Rafah border crossing, which has further restricted access to healthcare for Gaza residents.

This evacuation marks a small but significant step in addressing the dire health situation in Gaza, where ongoing conflict has severely strained the local healthcare system. WHO continues to advocate for increased access to medical aid and timely evacuations for those in need. (ILKHA)