Summary: The Emergency Medical Team (EMT) initiative enhances rapid response to public health emergencies by mobilizing and coordinating national and international medical teams that provide surge capacity. Since the escalation of hostilities in Gaza in October 2023, the local health system has faced severe challenges, including widespread infrastructure damage, critical shortages of medical supplies, and limited access to healthcare. In response, the World Health Organization, upon request from Gaza health authorities, activated the EMT mechanism and established an EMT Coordination Cell to support international deployment. By the end of 2024, 51 national and international EMTs were deployed across Gaza, addressing urgent healthcare needs in trauma care, surgery, maternal and child health, disease outbreak surveillance, non-communicable diseases, and mental health. A total of 918 international and 242 national personnel delivered over 2.2 million general medical consultations, nearly 37,000 emergency surgeries, and more than 14,000 referrals. Two national EMTs have resumed activities, significantly strengthening local emergency care and specialized surgical capacity. In 2025, EMTs maintain their presence and impact despite major operational constraints, including insecurity, restricted access, and persistent shortages of essential supplies. Current priorities include reinforcing all levels of healthcare, expanding community and home-based services, strengthening disease surveillance, and increasing psychosocial support for both patients and health workers. Operational agility remains critical to respond to evolving needs, including hospital evacuations, displacement, and surges in casualties.
Luca Pigozzi (Sun,) studied this question.