“Rafah must function as a true humanitarian corridor so that we can have an increase in aid deliveries,” Fletcher said, stressing that current access remains insufficient to meet the vast and growing needs throughout Gaza.
Only five evacuees
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that when the crossing was briefly opened on Monday, it facilitated the evacuation of five patients and seven companions from Gaza to Egypt.
The WHO said its role was focused on ensuring the safe transfer of patients from inside Gaza to the Rafah crossing, once security clearance is obtained.
Speaking separately to reporters in Geneva, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier described the evacuations as the first through Rafah in months, calling them “the beginning of a process” and a test of whether a sustained flow can be established: “obviously we need many more,” he said.
According to the WHO, more than 18,500 patients in Gaza still need specialized medical care that is no longer available in the Strip, including people suffering from severe traumatic injuries, cancer and chronic diseases such as diabetes.
‘Human disaster’
“18,500 waiting, five managed to get out…This is not just mathematics: it is a human disaster for those who have to wait.”
He also highlighted the tragedy of patients who have died while waiting for evacuation, even though life-saving treatments are available just across the border. A major challenge, he added, remains finding countries willing to receive patients.
Meanwhile, further movements through Rafah are expected in the coming days.
WHO continues to facilitate the transfer of patients and their companions, while the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) provides bus transportation for returnees from an internal checkpoint to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
At the hospital, OCHA and several UN and NGO partners have established a reception area offering medical, psychosocial and referral services.
The World Health Organization is overseeing the transport of patients to the Rafah border crossing on the first day of its reopening.
Generalized needs
Beyond medical evacuations, UN agencies and humanitarian partners continue to respond to widespread needs across Gaza.
Food security partners report that as of the end of January, around 25 organizations were producing and distributing 1.7 million meals every day through more than 180 kitchens, with more than half a million meals in the north and 1.2 million in the south.
Partners also brought in around 650 metric tons of animal feed during January, which are now distributed to ranchers and donkey owners who support essential services.
Schooling and shelter
In the accommodation sector, more than 83,500 families received assistance last monthincluding tents, mattresses, cooking utensils and warm clothing, although partners underline the urgent need to move towards more sustainable housing solutions.
Educational partners are also working to expand learning capacity by creating new spaces and supporting community-led initiatives as supplies arrive.
Despite these efforts, the UN has reiterated that without sustained access through crossings like Rafah, humanitarian needs will continue to outpace the response.