16 Gaza residents arrive in Spain for urgent medical care
The group includes 15 children
In a humanitarian effort coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, 16 individuals from Gaza, including 15 children, arrived in Madrid on July 25, 2024, for critical medical treatment in Spain.
This initiative comes amidst ongoing challenges for accessing specialised healthcare in Gaza due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
The children, aged between three and 17 years, along with their families, have been residing in hospitals in Egypt since early May following their evacuation from Gaza. Their conditions include complex injuries, chronic heart ailments, and cancer, requiring advanced medical interventions unavailable locally.
“We are immensely grateful for the collaboration of Egypt and Spain in ensuring these very sick children receive the care they urgently need,” stated Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
He stressed the pivotal role of international cooperation in providing essential medical services to those affected by conflict.
Since October 2023, approximately 5,000 individuals have been evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment, with the majority receiving care in Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
However, an estimated 10,000 more individuals are still awaiting evacuation, highlighting the ongoing healthcare crisis in the areas controlled by Hamas, which raided Israel on October 7, 2023.
The latest evacuation to Spain was made possible through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in partnership with WHO. At the same time, the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund played a crucial role in assisting with necessary documentation and approvals. Egypt provided interim care, underscoring the collective effort to support vulnerable populations amidst adversity.
Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, commended Spain for its swift response in accepting the children for critical treatment and urged other nations to emulate this example of solidarity.
As the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, WHO advocates for the establishment of additional medical evacuation corridors to ensure safe and timely passage for patients. Given the readiness of hospitals in these areas to receive patients, restoring routes to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is emphasised as crucial.
“The solidarity shown by host countries is a beacon of hope in this protracted conflict,” said Dr Ghebreyesus, emphasising that access to essential medical care should be a universal priority.
Featured image: Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed that 15 children from Gaza had arrived on July 25, 2024, for medical treatment in Spain. Credit: Spanish PM
