Thirty-Nine Infants from Al-Shifa Hospital Airlifted to Egypt for Medical Care

The Palestine Red Crescent ambulance teams departed from the Emirati Hospital in Rafah on Sunday to transport 28 premature infants to the Rafah Crossing, preparing them for their transfer to receive medical treatment in Egyptian hospitals. According to reports, 31 of the premature babies left al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, with two having tragically died just a few hours before the World Health Organization workers arrived. However, it is not clear why only 29 babies made it across the border and into Egypt.

This news was reported by Al-Qahera News, citing sources from within Rafah. The report stated that the evacuation was carried out under strict security measures put in place by Egyptian authorities, who had authorized only one journalist to report on the situation at Rafah. The premature babies were taken in ambulances across the border and into Egypt after being evaluated and deemed medically fit for travel.

The WHO had earlier described al-Shifa hospital as a “death zone” due to its poor infrastructure and limited resources. However, despite these challenges, medical staff have been working tirelessly to provide care for patients at the facility. The evacuation of these premature babies represents a major step forward in ensuring that they receive the critical medical treatment they need to survive and thrive.