Palestinian patients enter Egypt as Rafah crossing opens after nine months
The Rafah border crossing has become a crucial lifeline for the people of Gaza, as ambulances carrying dozens of patients, many with life-threatening injuries, have been cleared to cross into Egypt for the first time since May.
This marks the beginning of their recovery journey after enduring months of suffering amid the ongoing crisis.
Gaza's healthcare system is barely functioning, with hospitals overwhelmed and operating at a fraction of their capacity. The shortage of medical supplies and equipment has forced doctors to make difficult choices about who should receive treatment first.
Many wounded children require urgent care outside Gaza, but delays in their evacuation have led to deteriorating health conditions and, in some cases, loss of life.
"We have large numbers of wounded children who need to be treated outside Gaza due to the lack of medical supplies and equipment in Gaza’s hospitals.
The delay of their evacuation led to further deterioration in their health conditions and the loss of many children. Evacuating 50 patients is not enough to mitigate the dire medical crisis," a medical professional stated.
As these patients cross into Egypt with faint hopes and fragile bodies, thousands more Palestinians remain trapped inside Gaza. One such case is that of a child named Husf, who has sharp nails embedded in his leg, abdomen, and neck.
Despite multiple operations, he is suffering from complications, including severe infections. His family has applied for a medical referral but is still waiting for approval.
“For severely injured patients, getting urgent treatment is extremely important,” a doctor emphasized. After 15 months of relentless war, this fragile ceasefire has provided a crucial lifeline, but the medical crisis in Gaza remains dire.
The patients being evacuated have endured months without proper care, leading to worsening injuries and illnesses as the healthcare system continues to collapse under the weight of war.
The international community is urged to take immediate action to provide medical assistance and facilitate the evacuation of more patients in need. While the reopening of the Rafah border crossing is a step forward, much more needs to be done to address the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Topics: Egypt, Israel Violence, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Palestine, Rafah, War On Gaza
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