IRIA News

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the immediate evacuation of 2,500 children from Gaza who are in dire need of medical treatment. He made the plea following a meeting with American doctors who recently volunteered in the war-torn region and reported that thousands of children face an imminent risk of death in the coming weeks despite the ceasefire.

Guterres said he was “deeply moved” by his meeting with the American doctors on January 30, 2025. “2,500 children must be immediately evacuated with the guarantee that they will be able to return to their families and communities,” Guterres posted on social media after the meeting.

The 15-month-long conflict between Israel and Hamas has left Gaza’s healthcare system in ruins, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis for its over 2 million residents. The recent ceasefire, which began on January 19, 2025, has provided a glimmer of hope, but the challenges remain immense.

The delegation of American doctors noted that Israel’s relentless attacks in Gaza have left many children with amputations. Currently, there are no prosthetics or rehabilitation facilities in Gaza that can accommodate such many cases.

Ayesha Khan, an emergency doctor at Stanford University Hospital, worked in Gaza from the end of November until 1 January. She held up a photo of two young sisters with amputations, who were sharing a wheelchair. They were orphaned in the attack that injured them. Khan said that “their only chance for survival is to be medically evacuated.”

I was deeply moved by the testimonies and impressed by the dedication of 4 American doctors that have worked in Gaza.

2,500 children must be immediately evacuated with the guarantee that they will be able to return to their families and communities. pic.twitter.com/X9VlRECWMu

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) January 30, 2025

“Unfortunately, the current security restrictions don’t allow for children to travel with more than one caregiver,” she said. “Their caregiver is their aunt, who has a baby that she is breastfeeding.”

“So even though we were able to, with great difficulty, get evacuation set up for them, they won’t let the aunt take her baby with her. So, the aunt must choose between the baby she is breastfeeding and the lives of her two nieces.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that just days before the ceasefire, over 12,000 patients were awaiting medical evacuations from Gaza. Among them, 2,500 children urgently needed treatment. The WHO had hoped that the truce would facilitate an increase in evacuations, but progress has been slow.

Challenges during ceasefire

Despite the ceasefire, medical evacuations have faced significant hurdles. The last recorded evacuation occurred on January 16, when only 12 patients were transported out of Gaza. Since then, no further evacuations have taken place, leaving many children in critical condition.

Dr. Feroze Sidhwa, a trauma surgeon from California who served in Gaza from March 25 to April 8 last year, highlighted the severity of the situation and expressed frustration over the lack of a clear process for medical evacuations, noting that many children have had to undergo amputations due to delayed treatments. He stressed the importance of establishing a streamlined procedure to ensure timely medical care for these vulnerable patients.

Gaza ceasefire agreement

The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which took effect on January 19, 2025, marked a significant turning point after 15 months of intense conflict. The truce was brokered with the assistance of international mediators, including the United States and Qatar.

As part of the agreement, there was a mutual release of hostages and prisoners. Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in exchange for three Israeli hostages held in Gaza. This exchange was seen as a positive step towards building trust between the conflicting parties.

Following the ceasefire, hundreds of trucks carrying essential humanitarian aid, including food and fuel, entered the Gaza Strip through Israel and Egypt. The United Nations and other international organizations have been working tirelessly to scale up humanitarian assistance across Gaza, fully aware of the existing obstacles and challenges.

While the ceasefire has brought a temporary halt to hostilities, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire. The destruction of infrastructure, including hospitals and clinics, has left the healthcare system struggling to cope with the overwhelming needs of the population.

The international community faces the urgent task of facilitating medical evacuations for the 2,500 children at imminent risk. Establishing clear and efficient processes for these evacuations is crucial to prevent further loss of life.

Moreover, efforts must be intensified to rebuild Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure. This includes restoring hospitals and clinics, ensuring the supply of essential medicines and medical equipment, and providing training and support for healthcare professionals.

The ceasefire also presents an opportunity for broader peace-building initiatives. Encouraging dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian communities, promoting mutual understanding, and addressing the root causes of the conflict are essential steps towards achieving lasting peace in the region.