In the shadow of the ongoing conflict, the plight of Gaza's medical system has reached a critical point. Thousands of patients, their lives hanging in the balance, are still waiting for medical evacuations that could offer them a chance at survival. This is a story of hope, desperation, and the relentless struggle for basic healthcare in one of the world's most challenging environments.
The case of Amina Abu al-Kas is a stark reminder of the human cost of this crisis. Her son, Saber, recounts how his mother's aggressive necrotising infection spread to her skull, leaving her in unbearable pain. Despite the medical board's approval for treatment abroad, the family's wait was agonising. Two weeks after Amina's death, they received a call informing them that her paperwork was ready, a call that came too late.
This is not an isolated incident. The Gaza health ministry reports that 300 Palestinians have died waiting for medical evacuations since the ceasefire began last October. The World Health Organization (WHO) confirms this, highlighting the dire situation faced by thousands of others still awaiting treatment. The list of evacuees fluctuates, and not all deaths may be recorded, but the numbers paint a grim picture.
The process of securing an evacuation is a complex and lengthy one. Patients must pass security checks by Israel, the host nation, and transit countries, and be accepted by a host nation for treatment. This is not always straightforward, as recipient countries have specific criteria for the types of patients they can support. The WHO's Dr. Reinhilde Van de Weerdt explains that this can lead to delays, as patients and their companions need visas and must navigate security checks by multiple authorities.
The primary causes of the delays, according to the Gaza health ministry's acting undersecretary, Maher Shamia, are the lengthy security screening process and the limits imposed by Israeli authorities on the number of departures. Palestinians are only allowed to leave via the Rafah crossing with Egypt three days a week, and medical evacuations via the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel take place only one day a week. This restricted access exacerbates the challenges faced by patients and their families.
The desperation of patients is palpable. Nidal al-Arir wails for his son, who needs a corneal transplant, while Raeda Nuaizi, who had cancer before the war, cries out for treatment in Gaza, where painkillers are her only option. Muath al-Dini, a 14-year-old who lost his leg in an air strike, is waiting for two separate medical evacuations, one for his leg amputation and another for spinal cancer. His mother, Umm Samir, describes the devastating impact of the war on her son's health and the lack of treatment options in Gaza.
The situation is further complicated by the ongoing shortages of essential medicines and equipment. Aid workers report that doctors are rationing or loaning each other life-saving drugs, and turning patients away from chemotherapy or dialysis appointments. Pat Griffiths, spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), asserts that people in Gaza are dying because they cannot access the care they need, and that preventable deaths are occurring due to the restrictions on healthcare supplies.
However, the Israeli defence ministry body Cogat disputes these claims, stating that 17,000 tons of medicines and medical aid have entered Gaza since the ceasefire, including wheelchairs, cancer medications, insulin pens, anaesthetics, X-ray machines, CT scanners, dialysis machines, and medical consumables. But a humanitarian official involved in the situation, speaking anonymously, counters that Israeli authorities often use anecdotal examples to mask shortages of key medicines and equipment, and that aid supplies continue to be restricted.
The WHO's Van de Weerdt emphasises the importance of unrestricted medical supply, stating that if supplies were not restricted, there would be no need for discussions about what is given versus what is needed. She highlights the need for buffer stock levels of medical supplies and the critical role they play in ensuring hospitals can function effectively.
The situation in Gaza is a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict and the importance of access to healthcare. As patients continue to wait, their lives hang in the balance, the international community must act to ensure that the most vulnerable are not left behind. The story of Gaza's medical system is a call to action, a plea for compassion and a commitment to ensuring that everyone, regardless of their location, has access to the care they need.
