Gaza (National Times) The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for more medical evacuations from Gaza after 16 people were transferred to Spain.

Among them were 13 children with complex injuries, one child with a chronic heart condition and one suffering from cancer.

They crossed into Egypt before May 6, after which evacuations became almost impossible due to the closure of the Rafah Crossing, the organisation said.

Only 23 people have been evacuated since then via the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing.

“These children are just the tip of the iceberg. Thousands of people of all ages still remain in Gaza who need to be medically evacuated and are at risk of dying if they are unable to quickly access the advanced medical care they need,” Hanan Balkhy, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said in a statement.

“Patients who need evacuation outside of the Gaza Strip must be able to exit, preferably to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, but also to Egypt or Jordan and then onwards.”