HUCA to treat war-torn Gaza children

A total of 15 Palestinian minors and 27 members of their families with serious health problems due to the effects of the Israeli attack on the Gaza Strip will arrive in Madrid this Wednesday, July 24, from Cairo (Egypt) to be treated in various Spanish hospitals. Specifically, 13 of the injured are minors, one a cancer patient and another suffering from chronic heart disease. Two of them will be treated at the Central University Hospital of Asturias (HUCA).

Last June it was announced that a total of 29 minors would arrive in Spain. According to health sources, the remaining 14, most likely cancer patients, are expected to arrive soon. These sources emphasize to Europa Press, “These (the 15 arriving this Wednesday) are the ones who can go now, most of whom are wounded in the war.”

The patients will arrive at the Torrejón de Ardoz military airport aboard a medical aircraft of the Ministry of Defense. The operation responds to the commitment made by the Ministry of Health with the World Health Organization (WHO), announced by the President of the Government Pedro Sánchez, and also involves the participation and collaboration of the Ministries of Inclusion, Security Social and Migration; Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation; Counterterrorism; and Interior. Likewise, WHO has been involved and is collaborating with; the European Commission Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC); and the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund.

Gazan minors, most of whom suffer from various types of trauma injuries, will travel to various hospitals in the country for treatment, taking into account the availability and specialties of each medical center and the needs of the patients. They will be transferred this Thursday, July 25.

The children will be distributed as follows: five to the Donostia University Hospital in the Basque Country; five to the Cruces University Hospital in Barakaldo, also in the Basque Country; two to the Central University Hospital of Asturias in Oviedo; two to the General University Hospital of Toledo; one to the Navarro University Hospital in Pamplona; and the last to the Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid, which depends on the Ministry of Defense. All of these will be coordinated by the Ministry of Health. Likewise, the reception and reception of family members will be carried out by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Protection and Migration, in collaboration with the NGO Axem.

First medical evacuation

This completes the first medical evacuation within the Medevac mechanism with Palestinian patients arriving from Gaza due to the conflict. Medevac is a medical evacuation tool that is activated when a country faces a disaster exceeding its response capacity and requires help through the civil protection mechanism and whose activation involves the EU Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre to mobilise assistance and experts from participating countries.

In this case, WHO has coordinated the management of this request to the ERCC and activated the medevac. Spain has participated in previous medevac mechanisms to assist patients from Ukraine and Moldova. It is now the first European country to bring Palestinian minors evacuated from Gaza through this mechanism to receive medical treatment. Likewise, the Ministry of Health is calling on other European countries to join this mechanism to welcome minors.

Medical evacuation on military aircraft

The Ministry of Health has transferred to Cairo four health workers dependent on the cabinets of the Minister, the Secretary of State and Engesa, to coordinate the operation from the field and study the relevant health needs for minors before traveling to Madrid, together with the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Protection and Migration, which develops the psychosocial care study.

From last Saturday to next Wednesday, the teams will monitor the group of minors in the Egyptian capital and organize their evacuation to Madrid, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation through its embassy in Cairo. To do this, they also receive assistance from the staff of the European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre and the Aid Fund for Palestinian Children.

The evacuation of minors will take place on a medical aircraft of the Air and Space Force, which provides the technical infrastructure as well as the specialized personnel of the Aeroevacuation Medical Unit (UMAER). The aircraft is also equipped with state-of-the-art electromedical equipment and medical supplies, permanently checked and ready for use. The equipment they transport has a duplicate that allows them to cope with any eventuality.

Welcome

The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Protection and Migration is also part of the delegation sent to Cairo to assist the families of the children, who will later be cared for in Spain. They are accompanied by two members of the ministry’s Directorate General for Migration Management and two interpreters from the partner unit Axem, known as the Kunina Project.

The project aims to address the immediate medical needs of children, allowing them to remain with their closest relatives during treatment.

The Ministry of Accem and Inclusion will manage the provision of various services and functions within the reception, such as accommodation, maintenance and coverage of basic needs; as well as comprehensive care, including information and guidance, companionship, psychological and legal care, and translation and interpretation services.

During the period of operation, families will be housed in resources managed by Axem in the Basque Country, Castilla-La Mancha, Asturias, Navarra and Madrid. Greater proximity to hospitals where medical care is provided to minors or, failing that, facilities to transfer family members to the corresponding hospital center have been provided. These people will also receive financial support to cover their needs while participating in the program.

Appreciation of relief fund

The Palestinian Children’s Support Fund (PCRF) is an NGO that takes care of minors brought to Egypt from the Gaza Strip and is responsible, together with the Palestinian Authority, for their care and transfer to host countries. Its president, Viviane Khalaf, expressed her gratitude to Spain, the ERCC and the WHO for responding to their call.

‘This historic collaboration will ensure life-saving treatment for injured children in Europe. This partnership is a testament to the power of international solidarity and compassion, and reinforces our mission at PCRF to provide vital medical and humanitarian care to these children during these difficult times,’ he added.

Meanwhile, Tariq Hallett, head of PCRF’s overseas treatment programme, says: “The courage and resilience of these young patients inspires every day.”

“Sadly, many more children, like these 15, are in need of urgent medical care and evacuation. This mission represents hope for many families in Gaza and demonstrates the transformative impact of global solidarity,” he added. He reminded that similar missions are expected to begin in Belgium, Norway and Italy next week. “We hope they continue,” he concluded.