The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Gaza: Five patients evacuated as Rafah reopens while ‘too many stayed behind’ – WHO
As time is running out for thousands of critically ill patients in Gaza, hope is alive for medical evacuations to increase with the reopening of the Rafah crossing in the southern part of the Strip, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
The crossing opened on Monday after more than a year, as part of a U.S. peace plan put forward in September 2025.
WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told reporters in Geneva that on Monday, the UN health agency and partners supported the medical evacuation of five patients and seven companions to Egypt via the Rafah crossing.
“It was the first medical evacuation through this route since sometime in 2025,” he said, explaining that WHO’s role focused on ensuring the safe transfer of the patients from Gaza to the border crossing.
More than 18,500 patients in Gaza still require specialized medical care that is currently not available in the Strip, Mr. Lindmeier said.
“We managed to get five out, which is again fantastic, but obviously we need many more,” he stressed.
The WHO spokesperson called Monday’s evacuation the start of a process and a “test” which brings hope of a sustained evacuation flow, adding, “we all believe it did work so far.”
Mr. Lindmeier stressed that the selection of patients is made “by the health authorities on the ground” who suggest a priority list to the security authorities. Once a security clearance for exit through Rafah is obtained, WHO helps to “organize the transfer and notify the families,” he explained.
Describing the medical conditions affecting thousands of patients in need of evacuation in the Gaza Strip, the WHO spokesperson spoke of “heavy trauma wounds” resulting from the war, as well as chronic diseases such as cancer and diabetes, for which “help is not available in Gaza anymore.”
Hundreds of patients used to leave the enclave via Rafah to seek treatment before the conflict on a daily basis, and “for good reason,” Mr. Lindmeier said, adding, “we need to come back to that.”
“18,500 waiting, five managed to get out. Too many stayed behind. That's not just math - it's a human disaster for those having to wait,” he insisted.
The UN health agency spokesperson highlighted the tragedy of patients who died waiting for evacuation, “something which is horrible when you know just a few miles… outside that border help [is] available” but inaccessible “for political reasons”.
A major challenge in the complicated medical evacuation process is finding countries willing to accept patients, Mr. Lindmeier said.
“We need more and more countries to step up and help,” he insisted, stressing that the evacuees are “the most vulnerable,” with medical conditions for which there is no help inside Gaza.
“We would wish many more countries [would] come forward and help on that front,” he said.
-Ends-
STORY Rafah medical evacuations – WHO
TRT: 3:00”
SOURCE: UNTV CH AND UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 3 FEBRUARY 2026 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND; 2 FEBRUARY 2026, KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA.
1. Exterior wide shot: Palais des Nations, Flag Alley.
2. Wide shot: Speakers at the podium of the press conference.
3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson, World Health Organization (WHO): “On 2 February, WHO and partners supported the medical evacuation of five patients and seven companions to Egypt via the Rafah crossing. It was the first medical evacuation through this route since sometime in 2025 after that ceasefire. WHO’s role focused on ensuring the safe transfer of the patients from Gaza to the Rafah crossing.”
4. Medium shot: Speakers at the podium of the press conference, speaker on screens.
5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson, World Health Organization (WHO): “More than 18,500 patients in Gaza still require specialized medical care that is currently not available in the Strip, so 18,500. We managed to get five out, which is again fantastic, but obviously we need many more.”
6. Wide shot: Speakers at the podium of the press conference, speaker on screens. journalists in the Press room.
7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson, World Health Organization (WHO): “It's a start of a process there. It was also, as the authorities announced, a test, if it works. We all believe it did work so far and we're hoping this is increasing and turning into really a process where many more of those who need evacuations can actually leave.”
8. Medium shot: Journalists in the Press room.
9. SOUNDBITE (English) – Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson, World Health Organization (WHO): “That can be heavy trauma, trauma wounds of course resulting from the war. That can be chronical conditions, cancer, diabetes when, severe state, when help is not available in Gaza anymore.”
10. Medium shot: Speakers at the podium of the press conference.
11. SOUNDBITE (English) – Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson, World Health Organization (WHO): “We know that patients have died basically waiting for evacuation, and that's something which is horrible when you know just a few miles or kilometres outside that border is help available. It used to be available inside, but even when, if it's only available outside, East Jerusalem, for example, and cannot be reached for political reasons, that's horrible. And people lost their loved ones just for that pure reason.”
12. Medium-wide shot: Speakers at the podium of the press conference, speaker on screens, journalists in the Press room.
13. SOUNDBITE (English) – Christian Lindmeier, spokesperson, World Health Organization (WHO): “We need more and more countries to step up and help. These are the most vulnerable you can imagine coming out of a conflict like this and in a medical condition that doesn't find any support or any help inside Gaza. We would wish many more countries come forward and help on that front.”
14. Various shots of journalists in the Press room.
15. UNIFEED B-Roll: 02 FEBRUARY 2026, KHAN YOUNIS CITY, SOUTHERN GAZA STRIP: Various shots, vehicles belonging to the World Health Organization (WHO), overseeing the transportation of patients to the Rafah border crossing on the first day of its reopening; the courtyard of Al-Amal Hospital in Khan Younis; a WHO bus, UN vehicles – credit UNIFEED.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
‘This is a fire’: DRC Ebola outbreak is fastest-growing ever, warns WHO
Infections of the Bundibugyo species of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have reached record highs and a majority of new cases are coming from “unknown chains of transmission”, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
In war-torn Sudan, a deadly new cholera outbreak has already claimed more than 100 lives, heightening serious concerns for vulnerable communities including in besieged El-Obeid, where daily drone attacks reportedly continue to hamper aid access.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNIFIL
Ceasefire reduces violence in South Lebanon, but challenges remain as communities face devastation.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Ebola continues to spread in DRC, death toll passes 500 – WHO
The outbreak of the deadly Bundibugyo species of Ebola in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is expanding, while the push to accelerate testing and identify effective treatment options continues, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.
2
1
2
Statements , Conferences , Edited News | ITU , ODET , PGA , UN , UNESCO
UN chief António Guterres appealed on Monday for far-reaching, worldwide controls on Artificial Intelligence, as increasingly powerful AI chips that are designed for civilian use shift to the battlefield, where “killer robots” are already the norm.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk addressed the 62nd Human Rights Council during the Interactive Dialogue on Ukraine.
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO
More blistering heatwaves and other weather extremes are increasingly likely across the world now and in coming months linked to strengthening El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk this morning addressed the 62nd Human Rights Council during the urgent debate on the human rights situation in and around El Obeid, in Sudan.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNHCR , WHO
Venezuela earthquake aftermath: ‘breakdown of basic services’, disease risks and health workers missing – UN agencies
As search and rescue operations continue in Venezuela thousands of displaced people are struggling to find shelter while infectious diseases threaten to spread, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today addressed the 62 Human Rights Council and made the following remarks on the report on Venezuela.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday called for action to prevent more deaths in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody, as well as for investigations and accountability.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , IOM , paho , UNHCR , OHCHR , IFRC
Aid agencies on Friday highlighted massive needs across Venezuela caused by a double earthquake disaster that has killed at least 235 people so far, with search and rescue for people trapped under the rubble still the top priority.