Difficult access through Erez crossing
• More than half of patients were denied/delayed permits: Of 2,792 patient applications for a permit to exit Gaza through Erez checkpoint for hospital appointments in January, 46.95% were approved and 53.05% were denied/delayed. 98 patients (3.51%) were denied permits, among them 6 children less than 18 and 8 persons over 60 years; 1,383 (49.53%) received no response including 320 children and 92 people over 60 (Palestinian District Liaison office in Gaza).
• 61.4% patients' companions were denied/delayed permits: The approval rate for permit applications of patient companions was 38.6%; about 5.85% of the companions were denied permits and the remaining 55.6% were still pending at the time of the patients’ hospital dates.
• Security interrogations for patients: 35 patients (24 males, 11 females) including 2 children were requested by the General Security Services for interviews at Erez during January. 8 were approved.
Rafah exit eased
• Access to Egypt: According to Palestinian officials at Rafah terminal, the Rafah border terminal was open in both directions for 4 days in January allowing 400 patients to travel for health reasons to Egypt.
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