Four Gazan children arrive in Ireland for medical treatment

A group of four children from Gaza have arrived in Ireland to receive medical treatment here.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Health confirmed the successful medical evacuation which took place last night. It is the second time that a group of Palestinian children have arrived here for treatment under a World Health Organisation (WHO) agreement which will see up to 30 children from the war torn region receive care in Ireland.

Doctors from Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) worked with the WHO to identify sick and injured children who would benefit from treatment in Ireland. Four children arrived in Dublin on Monday evening accompanied by immediate family members.

The group travelled from Egypt on a plane provided by the Norwegian Government for the medical evacuation and were accompanied by two doctors and two nurses from CHI, three Irish Red Cross case workers and a translator. The families are being settled into their accommodation and the children will have a full medical assessment over the coming week.

“These children have lived through hell for a significant chunk of their lives,” said Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris.  “It is difficult to imagine the suffering they have experienced. I am proud that Ireland is able to offer them medical assistance, and I thank our doctors and nurses for the care they will provide.

“This medical evacuation has required the efforts of numerous Government Departments, including Ireland’s embassy team in Cairo, as well as the World Health Organisation, the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism and the Governments of Norway and Egypt.”

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, added: “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. 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.”

Under the WHO agreement, Ireland will continue to opt in on a case-by-case basis for each child who requires treatment, subject to the necessary capacity being available at that time.

Under this initiative the children and their families are housed in accommodation managed by the Irish Red Cross. The care package being provided includes caseworker and translation services to ensure that the patients and their carers are looked after and have assistance in accessing all services as needed. In addition, the HSE will provide appropriate psycho-social assessment for both patients and carers. All patients and carers received health screening prior to travel.

“The children have already begun treatment and we know the care they will receive at Children’s Health Ireland will make a big difference,” said Dr Ciaran Browne, HSE national medical evacuation coordinator. “We are very grateful for the assistance of Egypt, Norway and the EU to complete this mission.”

Niall O’Keeffe, head of international and migration with the Irish Red Cross, added:  “The situation for children in Gaza is dire, and especially so for those with medical needs. We are delighted to work alongside the Irish government to welcome these sick children and their families to Ireland so they can access vital medical treatment.

“The immediate humanitarian supports that the Irish Red Cross will provide will focus on the practical needs of the children and families, including accommodation, transport to medical appointments and other assistance. We have a dedicated team of Arabic-speaking caseworkers who will work closely with them to help them to navigate life in Ireland and access the supports they may need.”