JERUSALEM, September 28, 2017 (WAFA) –Five Gaza cancer patients died in August while awaiting referral for urgently needed medical treatment outside the besieged Gaza Strip, according to the monthly report on referrals and access for Gaza patients prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Meanwhile, said the report published on Wednesday, a 24-year-old patient with Hodgkin‘s lymphoma was unable to access diagnostics and treatment outside of Gaza after nine applications to exit through the Israeli-controlled Erez (Beit Hanoun) checkpoint.

WHO said while 55% of Gaza patients seeking medical treatment outside of the Gaza Strip during August were able to obtain an Israeli permit to leave the besieged enclave through Erez crossing, 45% were either delayed or denied permits.

It said that of 1,883 patient applications for a permit to exit Gaza through Erez for hospital appointments in August, 55% were approved, 3% were denied, and 42% were delayed with no response by the time of the patient‘s hospital appointment. Among those delayed were 169 children under the age of 18 years and 76 people aged 60 years or older.

In addition, more than half of patient companions were delayed or denied permits while 62 patients (44 males; 18 females) were requested for interrogation by the Israeli General Security Services at the crossing. Only four were approved permits to travel for health care.

M.K.