More than 18,500 patients awaiting medical evacuation from Gaza: UN
Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, says that figure includes at least 4,000 Palestinian children who “urgently” need medical care outside the bombarded enclave.
Dujarric told reporters during a briefing in New York that the World Health Organization (WHO) has facilitated the evacuation of more than 740 Palestinians from October 10 when the “ceasefire” came into effect to Monday of this week.
Those patients, including 432 children, were allowed out of Gaza via the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing and the Rafah crossing with Egypt, both in the south, Dujarric said.
“To reduce reliance on evacuation, the WHO continues to call for the rehabilitation and building of Gaza’s health system, including allowing more medical supplies in, restoring damaged facilities and expanding essential services,” he said.
Israel to appoint ambassador to Somaliland ‘soon’
Israel’s foreign ministry has announced it will “soon” appoint an ambassador to Somaliland, following the establishment of diplomatic relations with the region that seceded from Somalia during a civil war.
In a post on X, the ministry described the move as “an additional step in strengthening relations between the two countries.”
Israel became the only country in the world to recognise Somaliland’s independence in December, something the territory has been seeking since declaring its autonomy from Somalia in 1991.
Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi accused Israel of planning to forcibly displace Palestinians to the breakaway region, denouncing the alleged plan as a “serious violation” of international law.
