Most patients forced to flee Gaza's European hospital: WHO
Almost all patients in the European Gaza hospital in Khan Younis and the Red Cross field hospital have been forced to flee following Israeli military ejection orders for the surrounding area in southern Gaza, the WHO said Wednesday.
On Monday, 270 patients reportedly self-evacuated along with medical staff, and on Tuesday, the Palestinian health ministry evacuated more patients, the World Health Organisation said.
"Now only three patients remain at the European Gaza Hospital and three at the ICRC field hospital. Most patients have been referred to Nasser Medical Complex," the WHO said, citing figures from Tuesday.
The Israeli army on Monday ordered the evacuation for most areas east of Khan Yunis and Rafah along the Egyptian border. It did not explicitly announce a military operation, but such orders have typically preceded major offensives.
Though the European Gaza Hospital itself is not under evacuation instructions, the order has impacted operations.
"As witnessed several times during the ongoing war, insecurity in a hospital's proximity and lack of access for patients, health workers, and humanitarians to resupply fuel, medical supplies, water and food can make hospitals non-functional very quickly," the WHO said.
The UN health agency said it would try to support attempts to transfer valuable medical equipment and supplies out of the hospital.
The European #Gaza Hospital is now completely empty -- all 320 patients and all the medical personnel have evacuated, following the evacuation orders in Khan Younis, in close proximity to the hospital. Thanks to @UN partners, three trucks containing medical equipment from the…
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) July 2, 2024