The United Nations humanitarian coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory visited the Gaza Strip this week to assess humanitarian conditions and challenges facing aid delivery, as concerns persist over security incidents and limited medical access.
During the visit, UN official Ramez Alakbarov met with UN agencies and humanitarian partners in Deir al-Balah to discuss obstacles to the delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance. Aid agencies expressed concern over ongoing security incidents near the so-called “yellow line,” which have resulted in civilian casualties.
Alakbarov also visited the Rafah border crossing, where he observed the return of displaced residents to Gaza following the ceasefire. He is scheduled to visit the field hospital in Al-Mawasi on Thursday, where the United Nations and its partners are assisting patients seeking medical treatment in Egypt via the Rafah crossing.
Since the ceasefire took effect, the World Health Organization (WHO) has facilitated the medical evacuation of more than 740 patients — including 432 children — through the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings. However, an estimated 18,500 patients, including around 4,000 children, still urgently require evacuation to receive specialized treatment unavailable in Gaza.
To reduce reliance on evacuations, WHO has called for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Gaza’s health system, including the entry of additional medical supplies, the repair of damaged facilities and the expansion of essential health services.
The organization also urged the restoration of medical referral channels to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and called on member states to increase their acceptance of patients for treatment abroad while ensuring their safe return to Gaza after completing medical care.
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