The World Health Organization (WHO) has suspended all medical evacuations from the Gaza Strip following a security incident that resulted in the death of a contractor.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports, citing international media, that the organization confirmed the fatality occurred during a security-related event within the conflict zone.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated in a post on the X social media platform that medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt via the Rafah crossing have been frozen and will not resume until further notice. He noted that two other WHO staff members were present at the scene during the incident but did not sustain any injuries. According to the Director-General, relevant authorities will conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the event.
The suspension of these evacuations adds further strain to the humanitarian situation in the region, where medical facilities are already operating under extreme pressure. The Rafah crossing serves as a critical artery for transporting critically ill and wounded patients who cannot receive adequate treatment within Gaza. The WHO continues to coordinate with international partners to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers while seeking to restore essential medical corridors as soon as security conditions permit.
