Red Cross warns of catastrophic conditions in Gaza, calls for urgent medical evacuations

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip remains catastrophic, urging the international community to intensify its response and ensure that patients requiring specialised medical treatment can be evacuated abroad.

ICRC Director-General Pierre Krähenbühl described conditions in Gaza as “hell on earth” in statements on Tuesday, saying Palestinians have endured prolonged suffering amid severe shortages of medical care, clean water and adequate shelter.

Krähenbühl said many families continue to live in tents under extremely difficult conditions, facing persistent uncertainty about their safety and future.

He also highlighted the anguish of Palestinian families who remain unaware of the fate of missing relatives, including those believed to be buried beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings.

The Red Cross chief called for a stronger international response to address the population’s growing humanitarian needs, warning that existing relief efforts remain insufficient.

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He noted that the ICRC’s field hospital in Gaza continues to provide essential medical services, including maternity care, medical consultations and life-saving treatment.

The organization is also working to repair water infrastructure to help restore access to water for residents.

However, Krähenbühl stressed that humanitarian organisations can provide only a fraction of the assistance required, emphasizing that sustainable improvements depend on political action alongside emergency relief efforts.

He called for guarantees that all patients can access appropriate medical treatment, particularly those whose conditions require care unavailable inside Gaza.

Patients in need of medical evacuation must be allowed to leave the Strip to receive treatment abroad, he emphasized.

Krähenbühl reiterated that humanitarian assistance alone cannot resolve Gaza’s prolonged crisis, urging international actors to take meaningful steps to address the conditions affecting the civilian population.

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