Ireland completes complex medical evacuation of sick children from Gaza to Ireland

IRELAND HAS COMPLETED the third medical evacuation of sick children from Gaza, the Government has confirmed. 

The State announced that the Palestinian children are the latest to receive healthcare treatment here. 

The Government approved the initiative in September 2024, in response to an appeal from the World Health Organisation (WHO) to address the health needs of people from Gaza.

Doctors from Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) worked with the WHO to identify sick and injured children who would benefit from treatment in Ireland.

Seven children arrived in Dublin on Saturday evening, with 29 accompanying family members. The group travelled overland from Gaza to Jordan in a WHO medevac convoy and were accompanied from Jordan by an Irish medical team on a plane provided by the Norwegian Government.

The group will complete medical assessments over the coming days.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris, said he was pleased to welcome the kids. 

“These children and their families have been through a horrific ordeal. They will receive excellent medical care while here in Ireland as they recover from their experiences.

“I thank our international partners, as well as our embassy teams in Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Egypt, for their continued support and cooperation to make these medical evacuations possible,” he said.

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Likewise Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, said it was the first time that Ireland has undertaken a medical evacuation out of Gaza city to Ireland, via Jordan.

“It was a complex operation that required close collaboration across multiple government departments and with our international partners.

“The dedication, professionalism and humanity shown by all involved reflects the very best of public service. I offer my sincere thanks to everyone involved in making this medical evacuation possible,” she said.

The Government decision allows Ireland to receive up to 30 paediatric patients in total from Gaza. The State 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 well looked after and have assistance in accessing all services as needed.

In addition, the Health Service Executive (HSE) will provide appropriate psycho-social assessment for both patients and carers. All patients and carers received health screening prior to travel to Dublin.

HSE National Medical Evacuation Coordinator Dr Ciaran Browne, said the operation was successful due to connections across the EU, Norway, the WHO and Médecins sans Frontières.

“We are delighted to bring these children and their families to Ireland for treatment that will greatly improve their life,” he said. 

Head of International and Migration, Irish Red Cross, Niall O’Keeffe, said his organisation were delighted to assist. 

“We cannot begin to comprehend the deeply traumatic experiences that these children and their families have survived,” he added. 

The Department of Justice has co-ordinated visa requirements for the children and their carers and families, while the Department of Social Protection is involved in access to welfare and other supports.

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