United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for the urgent evacuation of 2,500 children from Gaza to receive medical treatment. This appeal follows discussions with American doctors who recently volunteered in the region and reported that these children face imminent risk of death within weeks.
The 15-month conflict between Israel and Hamas has severely compromised Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure, leaving over 12,000 patients awaiting medical evacuations as of mid-January, according to the World Health Organization. Among these patients, the 2,500 children identified require immediate attention for conditions that are often treatable. For instance, Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a trauma surgeon from California, highlighted the case of a 3-year-old boy whose untreated burn scars threaten his arm’s blood flow, potentially leading to amputation.
Dr. Ayesha Khan, an emergency physician at Stanford University Hospital, described numerous cases of children with amputations lacking access to prosthetics or rehabilitation services. She recounted the story of two young sisters, both amputees and orphaned by the conflict, who share a single wheelchair. Their only chance of survival hinges on medical evacuation. However, current security protocols complicate such efforts, as they restrict children to traveling with only one caregiver. In this instance, the girls’ aunt, who is also caring for her breastfeeding infant, faces the impossible choice between accompanying her nieces or staying with her own child.
The doctors emphasized the absence of a centralized and transparent process for medical evacuations. Despite the ceasefire agreement that began on January 19, which includes provisions for medical evacuations, a clear mechanism has yet to be established. Dr. Thaer Ahmad, an emergency physician from Chicago who served in Gaza in January 2024, noted the lack of defined procedures to facilitate these critical evacuations.
Guterres, moved by his meeting with the American doctors, stressed the necessity of immediate evacuation for these children, with assurances that they can return to their families and communities post-treatment. As of now, Israeli authorities have not responded to requests for comment on this urgent appeal.
