UN: 2,500 children in Gaza are at risk of death unless urgent medical evacuation is carried out
Trauma surgeon Dr. Feroze Sidhwa has issued a stark warning regarding the critical situation in Gaza, indicating that approximately 2,500 children are at risk of dying within the coming weeks if they do not receive urgent medical attention. He noted that some children are already succumbing to their conditions on a daily basis due to the severe shortage of necessary medical care.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued an urgent appeal for the evacuation of 2,500 children who have been injured over the course of the 15-month Israeli conflict in Gaza. Guterres emphasized the critical need for these children to access immediate medical care, highlighting the severity of their situation in the war-torn region.
His appeal comes after a meeting with American medical professionals who cautioned that children are at an “imminent risk of death” in the forthcoming weeks.
Four physicians, who volunteered their services in Gaza amid the 15-month conflict, have reported on the critical condition of the region’s healthcare infrastructure. They emphasized that the system has been significantly compromised by the persistent hostilities.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed profound emotion following a meeting with American medical professionals on Thursday. He stated that the immediate evacuation of 2,500 children is imperative, emphasizing the necessity for assurances that these children will be able to reunite with their families and communities. Guterres conveyed these sentiments via his social media platform.
In the days leading up to the commencement of a ceasefire on January 19, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that more than 12,000 Palestinians were in urgent need of medical evacuations. The organization expressed hope that the truce would facilitate an increase in the number of medical transfers.
According to Feroze Sidhwa, a trauma surgeon from California who previously served in Gaza from March 25 to April 8 last year, there are approximately 2,500 children currently requiring immediate medical attention.
Sidhwa, following a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, informed reporters of the dire situation facing approximately 2,500 children who are at immediate risk of death in the coming weeks. He stated that some of these children are currently dying, with more expected to lose their lives in the days that follow.
He noted that numerous children are in need of basic medical interventions, highlighting the situation of a three-year-old boy who had sustained burns on his arm. Although the burns had healed, the resulting scar tissue was increasingly obstructing blood circulation, posing a risk of amputation.
Dr. Ayesha Khan, an emergency physician affiliated with Stanford University Hospital, who was stationed in Gaza from late November until January 1, has brought attention to the significant challenges faced by children in the region who have undergone amputations. These young patients are reportedly deprived of essential access to prosthetics and rehabilitation services, highlighting a critical gap in medical care.
A poignant photograph has emerged showing two young sisters, both of whom have suffered the loss of limbs and are compelled to share a single wheelchair. “These children were orphaned during the attack that resulted in their injuries,” reported Khan. According to Khan, their survival now hinges on the urgent necessity of a medical evacuation.
Khan outlined the challenges impeding evacuation efforts, emphasizing that existing security protocols permit only one caregiver to accompany children. “Their caregiver is their aunt, who is currently nursing an infant,” she stated.
“Despite successfully arranging an evacuation under challenging circumstances, authorities are preventing the aunt from taking her infant with her. As a result, she faces the heartbreaking decision between remaining with her breastfeeding baby or prioritizing the safety of her two nieces,” she emphasized.
Cogat, the Israeli body tasked with coordinating activities with Palestinian authorities, has not issued a response to inquiries about UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ appeal for the evacuation of 2,500 children.
Medical professionals are calling for a more efficient medical evacuation system with well-defined protocols. “According to the ceasefire agreement, there should be an established mechanism for medical evacuations. However, the specifics of this process have yet to be clarified,” stated Thaer Ahmad, an emergency room doctor from Chicago who served in Gaza in January 2024.
Khan expressed apprehensions regarding the potential return of evacuated children, questioning, “Will they be permitted to come back? Currently, there is dialogue about the Rafah border being opened exclusively for departures, but this would entail exit without a guarantee of return.”
Prior to the ceasefire, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it had facilitated the evacuation of 5,383 patients since the onset of the conflict in October 2023. The agency noted that the majority of these medical transfers took place during the initial seven months, before the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt was closed.
The United Nations has reported that Gaza holds the unfortunate distinction of being home to the highest number of children living with amputations in modern history. For further details, please follow the link provided.
