Gaza Herald – The spokesperson for the Red Crescent in the Gaza Strip, Raed Al-Nims, has warned that the intermittent closure of the Rafah border crossing is increasingly endangering the lives of patients and wounded civilians, stressing that the limited and irregular travel permits are insufficient to meet urgent medical needs.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Al-Nims said that only a small number of patients are allowed to leave Gaza during brief opening periods, which cover only a fraction of those requiring urgent treatment abroad.
He explained that patient selection for travel is coordinated between the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, based on strict medical criteria prioritizing the most critical cases.
Al-Nims also highlighted the suffering of around 350 patients with chronic illnesses who are struggling to obtain essential medications due to ongoing shortages, including vital drugs and child vaccines, which is worsening the humanitarian and health situation in the enclave.
He held the Israeli side responsible for controlling the number of patients permitted to travel, noting that approvals are issued under restrictive conditions that humanitarian actors describe as unacceptable.
He further stressed that shortages in medicines and medical supplies persist despite ongoing efforts to meet needs within the extremely limited available resources.
