WHO Halts Gaza Medical Evacuations Following Worker Fatality

World Health Organization Suspends Medical Evacuations from Gaza

The World Health Organization (WHO) has suspended medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt until further notice. According to WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, a contract worker providing services to the organization in Gaza was killed during a security incident on Monday.

Two staff members who were present at the scene were not injured. The WHO confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway and will be conducted by relevant authorities.

The planned medical evacuation of patients from Gaza via Rafah to Egypt, which had been scheduled for Monday, has been suspended indefinitely. This decision was made due to the killing of the contract worker.

The WHO has called for the protection of civilians and humanitarian workers. The organization has been coordinating with Egypt and Israel since the reopening of the Rafah crossing in February, which is the only crossing in Gaza that does not link to Israel.

However, crossing numbers have been lower than expected due to intense checks by Israeli authorities. Israel has also limited the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and shut the crossing on several occasions.

The incident occurred during a period when Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire agreement that came into force on October 10 after two years of conflict in Iran. The WHO’s decision to suspend medical evacuations is part of an ongoing investigation into the incident.

Source: Al Jazeera