Turkey: Turkey’s Health Minister, Mr. Fahrettin Koca, has stated that the country plans to evacuate some wounded or sick Gazan children and young people.
The decision came as part of Turkey’s third round of evacuation. So far, Turkey has transported 150 people from Gaza, mostly cancer patients and their companions.
This week, it has also evacuated over a hundred Turks, Turkish Cypriots, and their families. Mr. Koca stated that the third phase of evacuations, which consisted of a group of 50 people, had been delayed because of issues obtaining authorization for their release. According to the Minister, these concerns had been significantly handled and officials were now working to complete the preparations.
Speaking at Ankara’s Esenboga Airport, Mr. Koca commented that three sick Gazan children had been brought to Turkey. The Minister also added that the children, a 2-year-old boy and two girls aged 9 and 10, will be treated in Turkey.
“We expect the third evacuation to be tomorrow and it will be an evacuation that will largely consist of children and young people,” the Health Minister remarked.
“There are less cancer patients (in the group), but it will be an evacuation that mostly consists of wounded children and young people,” the Minister noted, adding that none of the people on the list of 50 were in critical condition.
Ankara has dispatched around 800 metric tons of humanitarian aid, medical supplies, medicine, and medical personnel to Egypt for Gazans. The country has said its intention to establish a field hospital on the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing.