Over 100 critically ill children in Gaza anticipate traveling to the UK for NHS care after the government publicized a new plan to prioritize medical treatment for those in dire need. This initiative, announced on Sunday, involves a scheme to evacuate children from Gaza to the UK for medical treatment, slated to be disclosed in the subsequent weeks.
Despite appreciation for this announcement, advocates press for expedited action as patients, including children requiring urgent medical care, sometimes die due to the length of the approval process or get medically evacuated to other countries. According to Omar Din of Project Pure Hope (PPH) and an NHS primary care healthcare executive, this slow process has led to fatalities: “The government needs to act swiftly.”
Private efforts by PPH have already brought three children to the UK this year, which will serve as a framework for the new, publicly funded plan. “It is not too late to help many children,” Din said, though he emphasized that earlier action would have been preferable.
The UK’s decision to offer itself as a receiving nation comes amid severe conditions in Gaza due to Israel’s blockade, which has claimed over 50,000 Palestinian lives since 7 October. The World Health Organization estimates that around 12,500 patients in Gaza require medical evacuation, and humanitarian agencies urge more countries to provide support.
Legal action was previously initiated against the government’s refusal to provide medical evacuations, with over 100 MPs calling for action. Charities hope to bring around 100 children and their families to the UK for treatment.
While charities and healthcare workers stand ready to contribute time and resources, comparisons are drawn to neighboring countries and those in Europe and the US, which have already evacuated more than 7,000 patients from Gaza.
However, it is noted that the slow pace of government discussions on bringing children for medical care led to one child with severe burns being evacuated to Italy and another with a congenital disease to the UAE. Charities are optimistic that with a fully supported government scheme, the process can be scaled up urgently.
CNN, a charity involved in legal action against government decisions, expressed both relief and disappointment at the delay in the plan’s realization.
A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed the establishment of a cross-government task force to expedite the plan, emphasizing their commitment to evacuating children requiring urgent medical attention and offering them specialized treatment in the UK.
In summary, the government’s newly announced plan to evacuate critically ill children from Gaza for NHS treatment is seen as essential, with many emphasizing the need for swift action after previous delays. While there is widespread support and willingness from charities and healthcare professionals, concerns linger about the timeline and the efficacy of such a scheme in light of past bureaucratic impediments.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/05/100-gaza-children-hope-to-be-evacuated-to-uk-for-urgent-medical-care
