WHO chief says agency will remain in Gaza City, ‘appalled’ by displacement of population
9/11/2025 9:00:46 AM
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), said his agency and partner groups will remain in Gaza City despite orders to leave issued by Israel’s military.
“WHO is appalled by the latest evacuation order, demanding that one million people move from Gaza City to a so-called ‘humanitarian zone’ in the south designated by Israel,” Tedros wrote in a statement.
“The zone has neither the size nor scale of services to support those already there, let alone new arrivals,” he said.
“Almost half the functional hospitals are in Gaza City,” he added.
Tedros also called for the international community to act, including through an immediate ceasefire and ensuring the protection of healthcare, humanitarian workers and civilians in the devastated Palestinian territory.
“WHO is appalled by the latest evacuation order, demanding that one million people move from Gaza City to a so-called ‘humanitarian zone’ in the south designated by Israel,” Tedros wrote in a statement.
“The zone has neither the size nor scale of services to support those already there, let alone new arrivals,” he said.
“Almost half the functional hospitals are in Gaza City,” he added.
Tedros also called for the international community to act, including through an immediate ceasefire and ensuring the protection of healthcare, humanitarian workers and civilians in the devastated Palestinian territory.