On June 27, a significant humanitarian effort saw 21 critically ill children evacuated from Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. This marks the first medical evacuation since early May, when the sole travel crossing in the besieged enclave was shut down.
With the Rafah border crossing closed, the children were facilitated through the Kerem Shalom border crossing. Parents expressed their distress, highlighting their inability to accompany their children during these perilous journeys and the uncertainty surrounding their future treatment locations.
Muhammad Zaqout, principal of Nasser Hospital, revealed to CGTN that over 25,000 patients in Gaza require overseas medical treatment, including nearly 1,000 children battling cancer. He emphasized that the limited capacity of the Kerem Shalom crossing is inadequate to meet the overwhelming demand.
Hospital officials are urging for the reopening of the Rafah border crossing, advocating it as the safest and most effective route for medical evacuations, a method that had been successfully utilized before the closure.
Reference(s):
Stringer Dispatch: 21 children leave Gaza for medical treatment
cgtn.com
