The initial batch of Palestinian children, who are unwell or injured, is set to receive medical care from the NHS in the UK after being evacuated from Gaza. These children are currently under the care of healthcare professionals in a neighboring country before their transfer to Britain for further treatment. The UK government has been actively facilitating the swift evacuation of critically ill children from the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip.
Due to the dire state of the healthcare system in Gaza, children with chronic illnesses face immense challenges in accessing necessary medical assistance. Shockingly, over 50,000 children have suffered injuries or fatalities since October 7, 2023, as reported by the UN agency Unicef.
Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, shared with the Mirror that efforts are underway to relocate injured children from Gaza to the UK for medical support. She confirmed that the first group of children has already left Gaza and is en route to the UK. Additionally, the UK government is also working on evacuating students who have secured placements at British universities.
Cooper emphasized the diplomatic complexities involved in facilitating the departure of these individuals from Gaza and their safe transit through other countries to reach the UK. She expressed determination to assist the affected families and ensure that students can commence their courses this autumn.
A limited number of children have been privately brought to the UK by the charity Project Pure Hope, established by volunteer medical practitioners. However, official approval from the Israeli government is required for further evacuations.
This marks the inaugural instance where children will be brought to Britain for treatment under the NHS. Accompanied by family members if needed, each child’s biometric data will be recorded in a third country for identification purposes.
While the exact count of children in the initial group remains undisclosed, previous estimates suggested it could range between 30 to 50 individuals. Keir Starmer had previously pledged to aid more sick and injured Palestinian children, echoing public sentiment against the distressing events in Gaza.
In a recent announcement, the government unveiled plans to establish a program enabling children to access free medical care in the UK. A source from the Foreign Office revealed collaborations with the World Health Organization (WHO) to facilitate the transfer of critically ill and injured children to the UK for specialized NHS treatment, with the first arrivals anticipated in the coming days.