On 19 December 2024, Relief Across Borders supported the medical evacuation of eight children and 19 family members from Gaza to Ireland via Egypt for urgent treatment. This life-saving mission was made possible through a collaborative effort between multiple agencies, ensuring that the children receive the critical care they desperately need.

The children arrived safely in Dublin on Thursday night, marking a significant milestone in Ireland’s humanitarian response to the crisis in Gaza. The Irish Government approved the evacuation mission in September following an appeal from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The group of children and their companions was accompanied by three medical doctors from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and an Algerian-Irish translator. They were welcomed to Ireland by Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Seán Fleming, Dr. Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, Ambassador of the State of Palestine, and Mr. Andrej Droba, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic.

We commend the outstanding efforts of the Irish Government and WHO, who spearheaded and facilitated this mission. We also acknowledge the incredible work of the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE), which managed the clinical support of the patients, the EU’s Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), which coordinated the travel logistics, and the numerous other departments and agencies that provided essential support. These include the Slovakian Government, the Irish Red Cross (IRC), the Irish Consular Service in Cairo, the Gaza Paediatric Care Initiative (GPCI), and the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population, all of whom played a vital role in ensuring the safe and successful evacuation of these children.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said:

“I’m 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. I want to offer my sincere 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 have been involved in this successful operation.

“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.”

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said:

“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.”

It is estimated that Ireland will receive up to 30 paediatric patients in total from Gaza. The health needs fall under three primary categories: cancer, haemodialysis, and other severe medical conditions (excluding orthopaedics to ensure that HSE efforts to increase procedures in this specialty are not impacted). Ireland will continue to assess each child’s case on a rolling basis, ensuring that treatment is provided as long as the necessary capacity is available.

Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Seán Fleming said:

“I am pleased to welcome these Gazan children and their families to Ireland. They have come from unimaginably difficult circumstances, and all require urgent and serious medical treatment. I want to thank Egypt, Slovakia, Italy, the European Commission, and the World Health Organisation for helping us to make this evacuation happen.

I also want to thank our expert medical teams in Ireland and the Irish Red Cross, who will help these children and their families on the road to recovery. Children continue to bear the brunt of the war in Gaza. The UN estimates that children account for almost half of all people killed. Those who have survived the bombardment face life-changing injuries, illness, and trauma. Over 4,000 children a month in Gaza are being treated for acute malnutrition.

Under this initiative, the children and their families are housed in accommodation managed by the IRC. The care package includes caseworker and translation services to ensure that the patients and their carers receive full support in accessing essential services. Additionally, the HSE will provide psycho-social assessments for both patients and carers. All patients and carers underwent health screenings before travel.

Minister Donnelly and his team have spent months coordinating the medical evacuation alongside the HSE, the Irish Red Cross (IRC), and various government departments, including the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and Social Protection. The HSE is leading the coordination of all required medical and logistical services. The Department of Justice has managed visa requirements for the children and their carers, while the Department of Social Protection has facilitated access to welfare and other support services. Additionally, the Irish Consular Service in Cairo has provided critical assistance in processing identity documents for the evacuees.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said:

“I am deeply grateful to all those involved in the evacuation of these sick and injured children and will continue to assist the Minister for Health in fulfilling this initiative. While no child should be forced to flee their home, I warmly welcome their safe arrival, and I know that the care they will now receive will be transformative for them.”

Ireland’s response to the crisis in Gaza has included significant humanitarian funding and the provision of in-kind assistance. A substantial portion of this funding supports the delivery of essential services, including healthcare, in Gaza and neighboring countries. Since last October, Ireland has provided €40 million in humanitarian assistance, including €20 million allocated in February to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the primary agency underpinning all humanitarian efforts in Gaza, including healthcare delivery. Irish support to UNRWA, WHO, the Red Cross, and the EU ensures that healthcare continues to be delivered in Gaza, even in the most challenging circumstances.

Notes

Ireland’s response to the crisis in Gaza includes significant humanitarian funding and in-kind assistance. Since October 2023, Ireland has provided €40 million in humanitarian aid, including €20 million in direct funding to the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which underpins essential humanitarian efforts in Gaza, including healthcare.

Ireland has also contributed through the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Red Cross. Through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, Ireland has delivered three pallets of medical blood supplies to the Egyptian health authorities and provided 116 tonnes of relief supplies, including family tents, tarpaulins, blankets, water cans, and hygiene kits for displaced families in Gaza.

As an EU Member State, Ireland was asked to assist in medical evacuations following a request from WHO. The HSE has extensive experience with medical evacuations, having previously facilitated such efforts for Ukrainian patients. Through the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), Ireland has played a key role in coordinating medical transfers from Egypt to Dublin.

Since April 2024, WHO has submitted a list of 1,400 Gazan patients for evacuation through the UCPM, of which about 1,100 are in Egypt and 300 remain in Gaza. Unfortunately, Israel/COGAT has denied approximately 85% of medical evacuation requests, including those for young children. In some cases, children have been approved, but their guardians have been denied permission to travel.

Since the beginning of 2023, Ireland has provided over €62 million in support of the Palestinian people. Of this, more than €50 million has been allocated for humanitarian and development assistance since October 2023. Irish aid efforts include €38 million in core support to UNRWA and additional funding for other key humanitarian partners such as WHO, the Red Cross, and the EU.

Through Ireland’s Rapid Response Initiative, substantial aid supplies have been delivered to Gaza, and Ireland continues to advocate for an immediate ceasefire, increased humanitarian access, and urgent medical care for those in need.

News: Relief Across Borders Supports First-Ever Medical Evacuation from Gaza to Ireland