WHO commends UAE's efforts to evacuate sick, injured from Gaza

Dr Richard Peeperkorn, Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, extended special thanks to the UAE for its contributions and collaboration with the organisation in Gaza.

During a virtual press conference held today from Gaza with journalists in Geneva, Dr Peeperkorn stated that the organisation, in partnership with the UAE, organised a medical evacuation yesterday from Gaza to Abu Dhabi, departing from Ramon Airport in Israel, via the Karam Abu Salam crossing. This evacuation was to provide advanced medical care and was the largest since Oct.23, 2023.

Dr Peeperkorn explained that the medical evacuation was highly complex and conducted within a very narrow time window, noting that the operation included 97 individuals, comprising 49 women and 48 men. The group comprised patients and those with severe injuries, with half of them injured in the war in Gaza and the other half suffering from chronic diseases. He added that 155 people accompanied the patients.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also expressed his appreciation to the UAE for its support of this evacuation of the sick and wounded from the Gaza Strip to receive the urgent care they need. He said, "We continue to hope that this and other initiatives will show what is possible and make more evacuations happen for more people."

Since the beginning of the crisis, the UAE has made concerted efforts to bolster relief responses for the injured and sick among the Palestinian people, supporting them in the dire conditions they are facing.

The UAE has previously evacuated 1,665 patients and their companions in earlier initiatives, bringing the total number of patients and companions to 1,917 with yesterday’s flight.

The UAE has also provided over 40,000 tonnes of urgent aid, including food, medical, and relief supplies, via 10 ships, 1,300 trucks, 316 aircraft, as well as 104 airdrops under the Birds of Goodness initiative, through which more than 3,450 tonnes of the aid total were dropped over northern Gaza.

WAM