Gaza: The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip affirmed today that the continued closure by the Israeli occupation of the Rafah land preventing the departure of patients to receive treatment outside the Strip, is severely worsening their health conditions and threatening their lives.
Director of Al Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza City Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya said in exclusive remarks to the Qatar News Agency (QNA) today that around 20,000 patients and wounded individuals in the Gaza Strip have completed medical referrals and are awaiting permission to travel for treatment abroad. He added that 440 of the registered cases are considered life-saving cases, while 1,268 other cases have died while waiting for permission to travel outside Gaza.
He noted that cancer patients are among the most affected and suffering groups due to the closure of the crossing and the lack of specialised treatments and diagnostic services, pointing out that there are 4,000 patients with these diseases on urgent waiting lists to travel, in addition to more than 4,500 children who have registered medical referrals for travel. He also revealed that 3,100 patients were able to leave the Gaza Strip for treatment abroad after the crossing was closed at the beginning of last May, stressing that shortages of medicines and medical supplies, the suspension of most specialised services, and the destruction of hospital infrastructure have all exacerbated waiting lists for treatment abroad.
Abu Salmiya considered that opening the crossing, facilitating the departure of patients and the wounded, and ensuring the smooth entry of essential medical supplies represent the last remaining lifeline for patients and the injured.
He pointed to a widespread outbreak of viruses in Gaza these days, while patients with chronic diseases are suffering from a complete lack of medicines.
He warned of the presence of a mysterious virus that is killing residents and patients in the Gaza Strip amid the continued collapse of the health system, suggesting that it may be a variant of COVID-19 or a type of influenza.
In concluding his remarks to QNA, the Director of Al-Shifa Medical Complex emphasised the danger of this deadly virus given the severe weakness of immunity among Gaza’s residents due to the famine they have endured, in addition to cold weather, contaminated drinking water, and inhumane living conditions, particularly for displaced people living in displacement camps across the Strip.
It is worth noting that the Israeli occupation continues to refuse to open the Rafah land crossing and has delayed doing so despite more than 100 days having passed since the implementation of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which includes opening the crossing as one of its key provisions, at a time when the US administration has announced the entry into force of the second phase of the agreement.
