In this case, you can read more about: Since October 7, more than 85,000 people have been injured in Israeli attacks, according to Palestinian health authorities. 26 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals have been completely put out of business, while the others only function partially. Closed borders also prevent the importation of medical equipment and medicines into Gaza. AFFECTED BY THE WAR: A Palestinian boy who was injured during an Israeli attack in mid-June. Photo: Reuters In April, the World Health Organization (WHO) made a plea to a number of countries to accept a total of 9,000 wounded from the war in Gaza by the end of 2024. Later, the EU backed the call. Six EU countries have agreed to help, according to Vårt Land. This applies to Belgium, Spain, Romania, Malta, Slovakia and Luxembourg. On Thursday morning, Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) confirmed to news that Norway will do the same. – Norway is now making its contribution by allowing us to receive 20 patients from Gaza, he says. – We have close contact with WHO, the EU, health authorities and the organizations that work there. So we have a good overview and wanted to contribute. When the evacuation can take place is still unclear. Støre says it is a complicated process to transport the wounded out of a war zone. – We have to select those we can give treatment to, and it is a security assessment that we accept the right people. They must also bring a companion with them, so in reality there will be more than 20 people. VG mentioned the case first. At the beginning of June, Norway received an award from the EU for its efforts in evacuating war-damaged Ukrainians. Since June 2022, Norway has evacuated 1,707 Ukrainian patients to Norway and other European countries, the Norwegian Armed Forces informs news. 365 have been sent to Norway. Every week, Norwegian health personnel go to Ukraine, and look after the patients until they arrive in the destination country. They do this with the help of an SAS aircraft equipped as an air ambulance. LUFTEKSPRESSEN: An SAS plane transports wounded from Ukraine – in this case to Amsterdam – in March last year. Photo: PETTER BERNTSEN / AFP Støre says that it may be relevant to use the Medevac plane to retrieve injured people from Gaza, if it is practically possible. But that assumes that the evacuation does not exceed efforts in Ukraine. The plane, which also brought home King Harald from Malaysia earlier this year, is currently in Amsterdam. – I think it is in principle very good that the government is now finally opening the door for us to accept them, says Abid Raja (V) to news. Last week, Raja submitted a written question to Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. Here he asked whether Norway would consider accepting injured or sick children for medical treatment. – It is good that they have now had to think about it. Norway simply could not stand outside when several European countries have opened up to this. Photo: Nadir Alam / news Venstre is now asking the government to continually assess whether the number of patients can be increased. – We have resources. We have very qualified health personnel, and I think there are a lot of people in Norway who are willing to provide medical help to injured children, especially from Gaza, which is affected by war. In the reply to Raja, Eide wrote on Monday that the Norwegian authorities are working to clarify whether the evacuation plane can be used to pick up patients from Gaza. However, assessments must be made for both entry and residence grounds, and for children’s needs for carers. PST and the police must also carry out control measures and threat assessments, writes Eide. Photo: Hanna Johre / Hanna Johre – It must be taken into account that patients and relatives will not want or have the opportunity to return to Gaza after treatment, which in turn triggers assessments of the capacity for suitable reception, settlement and integration of the arrivals in the municipalities . However, the huge number of injured means that most will have to get help locally, emphasizes Eide. – It is my clear opinion that one of the most important things we can do in the current situation is to ensure that the health institutions in Gaza are back in operation. People killed since 7 October 2023 Close Sources: Hamas-controlled health authorities in Gaza / UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) / Israeli authorities Disclaimer: Figures from Hamas-controlled health authorities in Gaza do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, and may periodically be late. Figures from Israeli authorities show that around 1,200 civilians and soldiers were killed in connection with the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. 287 Israeli soldiers have been killed since October 27, 2023. None of the figures have been confirmed by independent sources. The Palestinian figures are updated daily. Figures from Israel are updated at least twice a week. Close More information about the figures Norway has, among other things, supported NORWAC’s mobile health team and at the field hospital of the international Red Cross, as well as increased funding to the Palestinian authorities and to UNRWA. Sylvi Listhaug (Frp) believes the funds must be used locally rather than bringing a small number of people to Norway. – It is cruel to see the suffering the civilian population in Gaza is subjected to. Norway must stand up to help as many injured people as possible and contribute with medical equipment, personnel and treatment, she says. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB – This appears to be pure symbolic politics from Støre. What about the many injured in other conflicts in the world such as Burkina Faso, Sudan and South Sudan? Furthermore, Listhaug believes that there are no guarantees that the patients from Gaza are not affiliated with Hamas. – Should these people be granted residence in Norway? It is not possible to stop them from applying for asylum. Arrangements are then made for family reunification. The FRP believes this is wrong and that the help must go to the many, not a few lucky ones. – A drop in the ocean A petition among Norwegian health workers demanding medical evacuation from Gaza has received over 4,500 signatures. Doctor and author Nina Brochmann is one of the signatories, and helped raise the issue in an news chronicle on 7 June. REQUIRES WORK: Doctor and author Nina Brochmann. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB Now she is happy that Norway wants to do more. – It is great that the government is taking this initiative, but 20 patients is a drop in the ocean. We expect the government to expand its efforts once the practical challenges have been resolved, she says to news. – Many have felt a sense of helplessness in the face of the atrocities that are unfolding, so it will be good to be able to contribute where we can. We can hope that it inspires other countries to similar initiatives. Published 27.06.2024, at 09.44 Updated 27.06.2024, at 15.34
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