Opening remarks by Dr Hanan Balkhy, Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, at the …
Dear colleagues,
Good morning from Cairo, Egypt.
11 November 2024 Since our last briefing on health emergencies, the conflict we feared would escalate has intensified, leading to a devastating deterioration in the Middle East, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territory and Lebanon.
The Famine Review Committee has warned of imminent famine in North Gaza and 15 UN agency leaders have described the situation there as “apocalyptic”. Yet, tragically, nothing has changed – and perhaps has only become worse.
Amid this relentless violence, we are working tirelessly to keep hospitals operational and evacuate patients in need of specialized care. In the largest medical evacuation since October 2023, WHO and partners facilitated the transfer of 90 patients and 139 companions to the UAE and Romania, with 84 patients and 124 companions transferred to the UAE.
WHO has consistently advocated for medical evacuations throughout the hostilities. While every patient’s safe evacuation is a success, it is important to remember that each evacuation means patients and companions crossing borders, leaving behind what is left of their homes and communities, their family and friends trapped in a war –loved ones they may never see again.
The trauma and emotional toll of this conflict are immeasurable.
In the past 3 weeks, WHO and partners have completed 7 missions to North Gaza, including 5 to Kamal Adwan Hospital. Several more were planned but not facilitated. During these missions, our teams delivered essential medical and surgical supplies to sustain hospital operations. On one of these missions, heavy bombardment continued close to where our teams
