The first group of Palestinian children to receive healthcare treatment in Ireland arrived in Dublin late on Thursday, December 19.
The Irish Government secured approval in September to evacuate a number of sick children from Gaza for treatment and care, following an appeal from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to address the current health needs of people from Gaza.
The eight children from Palestine arrived in Dublin late on Thursday evening accompanied by eight carers and 11 siblings. The group traveled on a plane provided by the Slovakian Government for the medical evacuation and was accompanied by three medical doctors from Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE) and a translator.
The group was welcomed to Ireland by Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Sean Fleming TD, Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, Ambassador of the State of Palestine, and Mr Andrej Droba, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic.
The group was set to travel to a hospital on Friday for a full medical assessment and will be settled into their accommodation over the weekend.
Ireland's Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said on Friday that he was "pleased" that the first medical evacuation has now happened.
He also offered his thanks to the doctors, nurses, HSE, Irish Red Cross, WHO, the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism, the officials across government departments, and all who were involved in the operation.
“There is no justification for the deliberate attacks on civilians and healthcare services in Gaza and the loss of life has been devastating," Minister Donnelly added on Friday.
"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.”
Pleased to confirm the arrival in Ireland of the first group of Palestinian children to receive healthcare treatment here. My sincere thanks to the doctors, nurses, HSE, Irish Red Cross, WHO, the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism and officials involved. pic.twitter.com/9xo2ezkoqo
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) December 20, 2024
Ireland's Department of Health said on Friday that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is present on the ground in Gaza and coordinated the evacuation of Gazan patients in Egypt in close cooperation with the Egyptian government.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population was also responsible for clearing all details relevant to the evacuation, including verifying the relationship between the patient and accompanying carer with the relevant authorities.
The Umerto Primo Hospital in Cairo was used by the Irish team to assess the patients, and the use of this hospital was provided by Italian EU colleagues. The services of the EU’s Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) were used for the transfer of the patients from Egypt to Ireland.
Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin TD said on Friday: “The long-term impact of the physical and mental scars being inflicted on children in Gaza is unconscionable.
"Ireland has continued to work with our international partners, most notably UNRWA, to provide urgent assistance to people in Gaza.
"The medical evacuation of children to Ireland is part of our consistent support for the people of Palestine.
"I am conscious that many other critically ill patients remain in Gaza, and their requests for medical evacuation are being delayed or denied by Israeli authorities.
"This denial of medical care is unacceptable and must stop.
"Since the beginning of this conflict, Ireland has consistently called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and a massive surge of humanitarian aid, including urgent medical care for critically ill children trapped in Gaza. This must happen. Children in Gaza cannot go into the New Year facing more serious injury and trauma.”
Ireland's Department of Health said on Friday that it is estimated that Ireland will receive up to 30 pediatric patients in total from Gaza. The health needs are categorized under cancer, hemodialysis, and patients with other severe medical conditions (except for orthopedics to ensure there is no impact on HSE efforts to increase the number of procedures being carried out in this specialty).
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, the Department noted on Friday.
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