The current evacuation rate means it would take 4.5 years to allow the departure of some 20,000 people, including 4,000 children, who require treatment abroad, the humanitarian organization warned in a release.

It detailed that only 12 patients have left the Gaza Strip for Egypt each day since the reopening this month of the Rafah border crossing, which had been closed by the Israeli Army since May 2014.

However, it added, the agreements reached regarding the crossing operation have given the green light to the departure of 50 Gazans every 24 hours.

Save the Children highlighted data from the Gaza Strip’s Health Ministry, according to which at least 1,268 patients in the territory have died in the last two years while waiting to leave for urgent medical treatment.

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