Since the Rafah border crossing was opened for civilian traffic on February 2, the evacuation of patients from Gaza has fallen far short of expectations. While an agreement was made to evacuate 50 patients per day, current figures show that only about 12 are leaving daily. This alarming pace means it would take over 4.5 years to evacuate all those in need of medical care, according to Save the Children. Shurouq, a representative of the organization in Gaza, stated that thousands of Gazans are facing a 'slow death sentence' due to the lack of essential medical services in the region.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has been dire, exacerbated by over two years of conflict which has left tens of thousands needing medical treatment that is unavailable within the territory. Despite hopes raised by the opening of the Rafah crossing, the reality has been disappointing as evidenced by the low evacuation rates. Gaza's Hamas-controlled authorities report that during the ten days since the opening, only 120 patients have been evacuated, when the expected number should have reached 500 if the initial agreement had been honored.

As the crisis deepens, the toll on human lives is becoming more pronounced, with reports indicating that over 1,200 patients have already died while waiting for medical assistance since the escalation of conflict. These figures underscore the critical humanitarian need for increased evacuation and medical support in Gaza as the healthcare system continues to collapse under wartime pressures, further worsening the plight of the civilian population who are largely trapped without access to necessary care.