Ramallah - The Coalition for Integrity and Accountability (AMAN) sent an official query letter to the Director of the World Health Organization in the Gaza Strip, Dr. Ahmed Dahir, regarding his observation of data and field testimonies that indicate serious violations in the process of selecting and evacuating patients and wounded individuals from the Gaza Strip for treatment abroad. This is in view of the nearly total collapse of the healthcare system caused by the ongoing Israeli genocidal war targeting civilians in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, and its repercussions that have deprived thousands of patients and wounded people of their fundamental right to medical treatment and life.
While the AMAN Coalition appreciates the important role played by the World Health Organization and its struggles in providing support to citizens amid the unprecedented humanitarian disaster in the Gaza Strip, it nevertheless calls on the organization to make clear the standards and mechanisms adopted in coordinating medical evacuation operations, and emphasized that the absence of transparency and accountability in this sensitive matter imperils the trust of the Palestinian public in international humanitarian entities.
In addition, the AMAN Coalition pointed out the lack of disseminated information regarding the role of the World Health Organization in determining cases that require treatment abroad and the system it follows, which raises questions about the fairness and transparency of that process.
AMAN also noted that patients whose medical transfer requests were denied or who have been excluded from evacuation are not informed of the reasons for the denial or who made the decision. It seems that there is no clear system that allows them to file a complaint or objection to these decisions. The Coalition also pointed out that the current mechanisms available for patients and their families for filing complaints are still unclear, and it is unknown whether they are subject to effective oversight or actually lead to tackling the violations.
The Coalition further stated that relying exclusively on the approved transfer lists issued by the Ministry of Health in Gaza raises questions about the procedures the WHO follows to verify the integrity and transparency of these lists. It also expressed concern regarding the inclusion of names that are not on the official transfers lists, and emphasized the necessity to look into whether internal investigations of these violations have been launched.
The letter also demanded clarification regarding the extent to which the existing coordination between the World Health Organization and the Israeli occupation authorities affects the organization's independence in making its humanitarian support decisions.
The AMAN Coalition affirmed its commitment to promoting the principles of justice and fairness, safeguarding the right to health and life and pushing towards improving the performance of the humanitarian support system operating in Palestine.
