Nearly all of the 70 Russians evacuated from Gaza were suffering from dehydration, according to anesthesiologist-resuscitator Andrei Yartsev, who spoke publicly through TASS. He noted that thirst afflicted both children and adults among the evacuees, highlighting a harsh toll on basic hydration as evacuees reached safety.
The doctor observed that many arriving patients carried chronic health conditions that had worsened under strain and fatigue. He stressed that medical teams were ready and equipped to treat the victims, emphasizing the commitment of hospitals and emergency responders to stabilize those in need.
In total, about 600 Russians were awaiting evacuation from Gaza, including around 300 children. The flow of evacuees has become a critical humanitarian concern as the region endures ongoing conflict and limited access to essential resources.
The broader crisis in the Middle East intensified when thousands of Hamas militants infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, initiating what Hamas declared as Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In response, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was at war.
Israel’s stated objective in responding to Operation Iron Sword has been to repel the attack, secure the release of more than 200 hostages, and dismantle Hamas. To support this objective, Israel conducted major rocket strikes on Gaza from the first day of the operation. At the same time, the Israeli National Security Council decided to halt supplies of water, food, goods, electricity and fuel to the Gaza Strip. Humanitarian aid shipments began moving through the Rafah crossing after October 20, but planners warned that the volume was insufficient to meet the urgent needs of civilians.
On October 27, Israel announced an expansion of the ground operation in Gaza. While the exact start date of the ground campaign remained unclear, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had already evacuated their homes and sought shelter in safer areas to the south. By November 5, IDF forces had surrounded Gaza City and cut off supplies in the central Gaza Strip, while fighting persisted in other districts. The evolving situation continued to complicate rescue and evacuation efforts for foreign nationals and families, including Russians who had been stranded in the area.
Earlier evacuations had brought Russians to Cairo, where efforts to provide medical care and shelter were coordinated with international humanitarian partners. Medical teams and consular officials worked to assess needs, arrange transportation, and monitor the health status of evacuees as travel routes remained precarious and uncertain. The situation underscored the vulnerability of civilians during urban warfare and the critical role of rapid medical response and humanitarian corridors.
Officials and frontline responders stressed that ongoing communication with international organizations aimed to streamline further evacuations and ensure access to essential services such as clean water, food, and medical care. The experiences of the evacuated Russians highlighted the harsh realities faced by civilians in conflict zones and underscored the importance of robust patient care, logistical coordination, and timely aid in crisis situations.