Dr. Richard Pepperkorn, the Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the occupied Palestinian territories, expressed special gratitude to the UAE for the contributions it is offering and making to the organisation in Gaza.
During a press conference held today via video from Gaza with journalists in Geneva, Dr. Pepperkorn revealed that the WHO, in collaboration with the UAE, orchestrated a medical evacuation from Gaza to Abu Dhabi yesterday. The group departed from Ramon Airport in Israel and crossed through the Kerem Shalom checkpoint to receive the highest level of medical care, marking the largest such evacuation since October 23, 2023.
Dr. Pepperkorn elaborated that the medical evacuation process was highly intricate and conducted within a very limited timeframe. He noted that the process involved 97 individuals, including 49 women and 48 men, all of whom were patients with severe injuries. Half of these patients were injured due to the conflict in Gaza, while the other half were suffering from chronic diseases. Additionally, 155 people accompanied the patients.
Yesterday, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, conveyed his appreciation to the UAE for its support in evacuating patients and the injured from the Gaza Strip to receive the urgent care they require. He stated, “We hope that this initiative and other similar initiatives will bolster the available capabilities, potentially leading to more evacuations for a greater number of individuals.”
It is noteworthy that since the onset of the crisis, the UAE has exerted significant efforts to enhance the relief response towards the injured and sick Palestinian brothers and to support them in their critical circumstances. The UAE has previously evacuated 1,665 patients and their companions, bringing the total number of patients and their companions to 1,917 with yesterday’s flight. Additionally, the UAE has provided over 40,000 tons of urgent aid, including food, medical, and relief supplies, via 10 ships, 1,300 trucks, 316 aircraft, and 104 airdrops as part of Operation “Birds of Goodness,” through which more than 3,450 tons were air-dropped over northern Gaza.
