Gaza evacuations: Is medical aid enough to save lives?

The head of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Europe branch, Hans Kluge, said up to 1,000 mothers and children in Gaza who require immediate medical attention will be transferred to Europe. Facilitated by WHO and participating European nations, the action provides a lifeline to the war-torn territory, which Israel is currently besieging.

But can medical assistance by itself effectively alleviate Gaza’s escalating humanitarian crisis?

The arguments

A Parallel Crisis in Ukraine

Kluge drew parallels between Gaza and another ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where the healthcare system has also been under siege since Russia’s 2022 invasion. The WHO registered around 2,000 attacks on health centers in Ukraine, with healthcare workers there facing extreme challenges, including power outages that force surgeons to operate using headlamps. “It will be a very, very tough winter,” Kluge warned, highlighting the destruction of 80% of Ukraine’s civilian energy grid.

Despite the dire circumstances, Kluge underscored the importance of keeping lines of communication open. “This would never have happened if we did not keep the dialogue open,” he explained, citing the example of providing HIV-AIDS medications to 15,000 patients in the Donbas region of Ukraine.

Preparing for Future Health Crises

In addition to dealing with these crises, Kluge is working to get Europe ready for pandemics in the future. By the end of October, a European pandemic strategy and talks for a global pandemic treaty are anticipated. “Even if we do our share, we’re never going to stop bugs entering our continent,” Kluge said, emphasising the need for international cooperation to manage the next crisis effectively.

He also warned that healthcare systems across Europe are still reeling from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which set progress back by two years in tackling non-communicable diseases like cancer and tuberculosis. Meanwhile, mental health issues have surged, with anxiety and depression up by 25% and violence against women also rising during lockdowns.

The Road Ahead

While evacuations from Gaza and Ukraine offer some hope, they are only temporary solutions to much deeper problems. The need for long-term strategies to protect healthcare systems, particularly in conflict zones, remains critical. As Kluge continues his mandate at WHO Europe, the race to save lives is not just about evacuation—it’s about ensuring that healthcare survives amid the chaos of war.

The facts

Kluge disclosed that Israel had agreed to evacuate an additional 1,000 people over the next few months. Since the most recent conflict started in October 2023, 600 transfers from Gaza to seven European nations have been completed successfully, including these evacuations.

Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO representative for the occupied Palestinian territory, predicts that as the situation deteriorates, around 10,000 people urgently need to leave Gaza for medical treatment.

Yet, as the conflict intensifies, UN investigators have accused Israel of targeting health facilities and medical personnel in Gaza, alleging these actions constitute “crimes against humanity.”

The toll on healthcare workers is severe, with many struggling to provide care in deteriorating conditions. “The most important medicine is peace,” Kluge stressed, calling for non-political solutions to health crises in conflict zones.

Is medical aid enough to solve these crises? Only time will tell.