Three children have died or are in critical condition in Gaza, highlighting the severe healthcare challenges in the region. Zain Tafesh, age three, died from leukemia, while 10-year-olds Amar Abu Said and Ahmed al-Jadd require urgent, specialized medical treatment not available locally. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 15,000 patients need medical evacuation, with the first convoy since the ceasefire transporting 41 patients and 145 carers via Israel to Jordan. Efforts to increase evacuations are hindered by border crossing restrictions.
Critical Patient Cases
Three-year-old Zain Tafesh died from leukemia recently. In Nasser Hospital, two 10-year-old boys are in critical condition. Amar Abu Said is paralyzed from the neck down after a bullet, which his family states was fired by an Israeli drone, lodged between his vertebrae. Doctors have advised that surgery for his condition is complex and carries risks including death, stroke, or brain hemorrhage, necessitating a well-equipped facility.
Ahmed al-Jadd, also 10, has a brain tumour. His symptoms began with a drooping mouth and head pain, progressing to a loss of movement in his right hand. His sister, Shahd, reports that the family is seeking treatment abroad for his tumour, particularly following the recent ceasefire which offered some hope for travel.
Eight-year-old Saadi Abu Taha died this week from stomach cancer.
Deteriorating Healthcare Infrastructure
Hospitals in Gaza are reported to be in a critical state following two years of conflict, making them unsuitable for complex surgical procedures and advanced medical care needed by patients like Amar and Ahmed.
Medical Evacuation Efforts and Challenges
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that approximately 15,000 patients require urgent medical evacuations. On October 10, the WHO coordinated the first medical convoy since the recent ceasefire. This convoy transported 41 patients and 145 carers to hospitals abroad via Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing, with further transit to Jordan.
The UN agency has advocated for a rapid increase in medical evacuations. It has requested the use of Gaza's Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a route previously utilized. However, Israel has stated that the Rafah crossing will remain closed until Hamas fulfills commitments under the Gaza ceasefire deal, specifically the return of deceased hostages. Israel has maintained control of the Gaza side of the Egyptian border since May 2024.
International Calls for Access
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the WHO, suggested on Thursday that allowing Gazan patients access to treatment in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem—a practice pre-dating the conflict—would be the most effective measure. Top officials from the European Union and foreign ministers from over 20 countries, including the UK, have previously called for this, offering financial aid, medical staff, or equipment.