WHO says Rafah crossing closure has prevented at least 2,000 medical evacuations

World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday said that the closure of the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza has prevented at least 2,000 medical evacuations.

WHO called for Rafah crossing and other routes to be opened to allow medical evacuations and humanitarian aid. The Rafah crossing has been shut down since Israel launched an operation on the southern edge of Gaza Strip in May.

WHO representative in the West Bank and Gaza, Rik Peeperkorn said that at least 10,000 people are in need of evacuation from Gaza, adding that this was an underestimation of the actual numbers.

"We need more routes for medical emergency evacuation (medevac), we would like to see Kerem Shalom and other routes also opened for medevac where patients can then be referred to the referral hospitals in East Jerusalem and the West Bank," Peeperkorn said.

A group of five children who had been evacuated from northern Gaza to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and were reportedly poised to leave the strip were still awaiting evacuation, Peeperkorn said.