The first group of Palestinian children to be medically evacuated to Ireland for healthcare treatment has arrived, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said.
The eight children, accompanied by eight carers and 11 siblings, travelled to Ireland in a plane provided by the Slovakian government for the medical evacuation.
In April, the World Health Organisation (WHO) requested support from EU member states to medically evacuate Palestinian patients to Europe.
More than 14,500 children have been reportedly killed in Gaza since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, according to UNICEF.
Ten states, including Ireland, offered to support the WHO request.
Before the arrival of the patients in Ireland, 65 patients and 163 relatives were already been evacuated to Spain, Italy, Germany, Romania, Belgium and Norway.
It is estimated that Ireland will evacuate and treat up to 30 children in total.
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora Sean Fleming said that the children travelled from Egypt but are originally from Gaza.
He said that the children suffer from illnesses like cancer, haemophilia, have blood disorders while others require surgeries for injuries and had been receiving treatment in Egypt.
The Fianna Fáil TD explained that it was the WHO who first identified these children and then in consultation with Egypt, submitted to Ireland the list of patients asking if the country is in a position to take them.
Mr Fleming said that in total there are about 2,500 sick children needing treatment and that Ireland along with other countries have been stepping up to the plate to help.
"We will check with the relevant hospitals here and ask can they add an extra number of people and when we get the go ahead from our hospitals here and consultants, we will move at that point."
Mr Fleming added that the process has many parts "because there's no point in bringing somebody here if the specific treatment required is not ready".
Orthopaedic conditions are excluded to ensure there is no impact on HSE efforts to increase the number of procedures being carried out, the Department of Health said in a statement.
Ireland will opt-in on medical evacuations on a case-by-case basis depending on the capacity available at the time, the statement added.
"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," said Mr Donnelly.
The HSE said it was a "very complex and dynamic operation".
My thanks to @SeanFlemingTD for welcoming the group @DublinAirport last night and Andrej Droba, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Ireland for his country's assistance in the Medical Evacuation @SVKembassyIRL https://t.co/4BCbq2voD2
— Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) December 20, 2024
"These children are suffering from a range of conditions that without treatment can be very serious. We have been working with our specialist paediatric doctors and nurses in Children's Health Ireland to plan their treatment," said HSE National Medical Evacuation Coordinator, Ciaran Browne.
Head of International and Migration with the Irish Red Cross Niall O'Keeffe said it was very touching to meet the Gazan families when they arrived last night, as they took their first steps into Ireland.
The Irish Red Cross are dedicating a team of case workers and social workers to allow the group navigate and access any additional supports they may need.
Speaking to RTÉ's Drive Time, Mr O'Keeffe explained that after settling in last night, the children have been taken over to the hospital for their initial medical assessment, adding that this would be paramount in terms of determining their plan for the next number of days and weeks ahead
Mr O'Keeffe added that lots of items including clothes and food have been provided for the families and it is anticipating more generosity to come in the coming days.
"We've received a massive amount of very generous donations from people in terms of those and food and other items and that's been fantastic," Mr O'Keeffe said.
The health needs of those being evacuated are categorised under cancer, haemodialysis and other severe medical conditions.
The WHO has so far coordinated the evacuation of 2,300 patients from Gaza to Egypt since the start of the war.
An initial list of 1,400 patients put forward for medical evacuation included 1,100 already in Egypt and 300 still in Gaza. An additional 685 are expected to be added to the Egypt list.
It is estimated that around 85% of medical evacuation requests in Gaza are denied, with young men in particular being denied access to healthcare.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said there needed to be an increase in the number of Palestinians allowed to access medical supports.
"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."
