An urgent mission by a team from the World Health Organization (WHO) to deliver medical supplies and transfer critically injured patients at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City turned into a harrowing ordeal on 9 December 2023. At the Wadi Gaza checkpoint, UN convoy members were detained and ambulances were stopped for security checks, further delaying the mission. The situation escalated when one PRCS staff member was taken for interrogation, and despite efforts to coordinate his release, the team had to leave the area due to safety concerns. Tragically, one of the injured patients died as a result of untreated wounds during the transfer process. The detained staff member was later released, reporting that he had been harassed, beaten, threatened, and subjected to degrading treatment.
The WHO team’s mission to Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City on 9 December 2023 was intended to deliver medical supplies, assess the hospital, and transfer critically injured patients to a hospital in the south. However, the mission was marred by delays and dangerous encounters. At the Wadi Gaza checkpoint, UN convoy members were detained and ambulances were stopped for security checks, adding to the already high-risk nature of the mission. The situation worsened when one PRCS staff member was taken for interrogation and the team was forced to leave the area, leaving behind critically injured patients.
Tragically, one of the injured patients died as a result of untreated wounds during the transfer process. The detained staff member reported being harassed, beaten, and subjected to humiliating treatment. After joint UN efforts, he was released, but the incident highlights the dangers faced by humanitarian workers in conflict zones. The WHO team’s efforts to deliver crucial medical supplies and aid to those in need were hindered by security risks and delays, underscoring the urgent need for improved access and protection for humanitarian missions in conflict-affected areas.
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