UNICEF Alleges Injured Gaza Children ‘Left to Die’ as Medical Evacuations Grind to a Halt
By Matthew Eloyi
A severe lack of medical evacuations for seriously injured children in Gaza is leading to preventable deaths, the United Nations reported, attributing the crisis to limited ambulance access to hospitals outside the conflict zone.
“Those who barely survived the ruthless bombardments are then condemned to die from their injuries,” stated James Elder, spokesperson for the UN children’s agency, UNICEF, during a press briefing.
According to Elder, the number of children transferred for critical care has plummeted to fewer than one per day since the Rafah border crossing closed in May.
In the face of life-threatening injuries, these children find themselves at the mercy of an “indifferent bureaucracy,” Elder said, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that between 12,000 and 14,000 people in Gaza urgently need access to external medical facilities.
WHO has called for immediate re-establishment of medical corridors to save lives amid the escalating humanitarian crisis.
Since the deadly Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, the Israeli military has launched widespread bombing campaigns and deployed ground forces into Gaza.
According to Gaza’s health authority, which is under Hamas control, tens of thousands of civilians have been killed in the ongoing conflict.