AMMAN, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Jordanian Armed Forces on Monday announced the relocation of its field hospital from the Tel al-Hawa area in southwest Gaza City to Khan Younis in the south, citing safety concerns.
A military source said the hospital's surroundings had come under continuous bombardment in recent weeks, which damaged parts of the facility, destroying equipment, and disrupted some services.
The number of patients seeking treatment had dropped sharply, leaving the hospital largely non-operational, the source noted, adding that access routes had also become dangerous and supply lines threatened.
The relocation aims to reach a larger number of Gaza residents and provide needed services, especially as patients and the wounded struggle to obtain treatment elsewhere, the source said.
He stressed that the move seeks to sustain Jordan's medical efforts in Gaza, adding the hospital could return to Tel al-Hawa when conditions allow.
The field hospital, which has operated in Gaza for more than 16 years, was directly targeted early in the Gaza war, forcing a temporary suspension before it later resumed work.
The Jordanian Armed Forces operate two field hospitals in Gaza: one in the north, established in 2009, and another in Khan Younis, set up in November 2023 following the outbreak of the Gaza war on Oct. 7, 2023. ■
