Eight Palestinian children arrived in Dublin late on Thursday evening to receive healthcare treatment, the Department of Health has confirmed. The children were accompanied by eight carers and 11 siblings.
Government approval was secured in September for Ireland to evacuate a number of sick children from Gaza for treatment and care, following an appeal from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The group travelled on a plane provided by the Slovakian Government for the medical evacuation and were accompanied by three medical doctors from the HSE and a translator.
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, said he was “pleased that the first medical evacuation of Palestinian children and their carers/guardians to Ireland has now happened” and that the Irish health service is now providing care to these children.
“There is no justification for the deliberate attacks on civilians and healthcare services in Gaza and the loss of life has been devastating. Ireland has been clear that this conflict should stop,” said Minister Donnelly. “I’m pleased that Ireland is playing a part in treating children whose lives have been devastated by this needless war and I wish these children well in their time ahead here in Ireland.”
The Minister thanked the doctors and nurses involved as well as the HSE, Irish Red Cross, WHO, the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism, “the officials across government departments, and all who have been involved in this successful operation”.
The WHO is present on the ground in Gaza and coordinated the evacuation of patients through Egypt. Egypt has accepted over 2,300 medevac patients since the start of the war. According to the Department of Health this has placed an enormous strain on the Egyptian health system, resulting in many of these patients being unable to access the required healthcare.
The patients who arrived in Ireland were part of this group in Egypt.
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