A total of 15 Palestinian minors with serious health problems resulting from the effects of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip and 27 immediate family members will arrive in Madrid this WednesdayJuly 24, from Cairo to be treated in various Spanish hospitals. Specifically, there are 13 injured minors, one cancer patient and another with a chronic heart disease.

This operation responds the commitment made by the Ministry of Health with the World Health Organization (WHO)announced by the President of the Government, and which has also counted on the participation and collaboration of the Ministries of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration; Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation; Defence; and the Interior. Also involved and collaborating were the WHO; the European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC); and the Palestinian Children’s Aid Fund.

Gazan minors, most of whom have various types of trauma injuries, They will be treated in hospitals in the Basque Country, Asturias, Navarra, Castilla La Mancha and the Gómez Ulla in Madrid.dependent on the Ministry of Defense, all under the coordination of the Ministry of Health. Likewise, the relatives will be welcomed and accompanied by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration in collaboration with the NGO Accem.

Children, their families and the displaced teams from the Ministries of Health and Inclusion, Social Security and Migration They will arrive this Wednesday at the Torrejón de Ardoz Military Airportaboard a medical aircraft from the Ministry of Defense, which offers all the safety guarantees in an evacuation of these characteristics.

The first medical evacuation within the mechanism is thus completed. Medevac with Palestinian patients from Gaza due to the conflictMedevac is a medical evacuation device that is activated when a country faces a disaster that exceeds its response capacity and requires assistance through the civil protection mechanism. Its activation involves the European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre to mobilise assistance and experts from the participating countries.

In this case, WHO has coordinated the management of this request to the ERCC and has activated the MedevacSpain has participated in previous Medevac mechanisms to assist patients from Ukraine and Moldova. And now it is the first European country to bring Palestinian minors evacuated from Gaza through this mechanism to receive medical treatment. The Ministry of Health is also calling on other European countries to join this mechanism for the reception of minors.

Medical care in Spanish hospitals

Once in Spain, The minors will be transferred to different hospitals in the country to be able to be attended to, depending on the availability and specialties of each of the medical centers and the needs of the patients. They will be transferred this Thursday, July 25.

Patients will be distributed as follows: Five to the Donostia University Hospital in the Basque Country; five to the Cruces University Hospital in Baracaldo, 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 one to the Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid, which is part of the Ministry of Defense.

Medical evacuation on an Army plane

The Ministry of Health has sent four health professionals from the offices of the Minister, the Secretary of State and Ingesa to Cairo to coordinate the operation from the field and carry out the studies of health needs relevant to the minors before the trip to Madrid, in colaboration withthe Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrationwhich develops psychosocial care studies.

From this past Saturday until next Wednesday, the teams will supervise the grouping of the minors from the Egyptian capital and organize their evacuation to Madrid, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation through its Embassy in Cairo. To do so, They are also assisted by staff from the European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre. and the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund.

The evacuation of the minors will take place in a medicalized aircraft of the Air and Space Force, which provides technical infrastructure, as well as specialized personnel from the UMAER (Medical Aeroevacuation Unit) to ensure the safety of patients at all times. The aircraft is also equipped with state-of-the-art electromedical equipment and medical supplies, which are constantly inspected and ready for use.

The UMAER is a unit that It is characterized by its professionalism, meticulousness and anticipation of different scenarios.For this reason, the equipment they transport has a duplicate that allows them to deal with any eventuality.

Reception

The Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration has also travelled with 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 General Directorate of Migration Management and two interpreters from Accemthe collaborating entity that will carry out the so-called Cunina Project.

The aim of the project is to meet the urgent medical needs of children, allowing them to be accompanied by their closest relatives during treatment. Accem and the Ministry of Inclusion will manage the provision of various services and actions within the reception, such as accommodation, food and coverage of basic needs; as well as comprehensive care, consisting of information and guidance, support, psychological and legal care, and translation and interpretation services.

During the duration of the operation, the families will be housed in facilities managed by Accem in the Basque Country, Castilla La Mancha, Asturias, Navarra and Madrid. The closest possible location to the hospitals where the minors receive medical care has been facilitated, or, failing that, the transfer of the relatives to the corresponding hospital centre. These people will also receive financial aid. to cover their needs while participating in the program.

Thanks from the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund

The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) is the NGO that cares for children evacuated to Egypt from the Gaza Strip and is responsible, together with the Palestinian authority, for their care and transfer to host countries. PCRF President Vivian Khalaf said: “We thank the Government of Spain, the ERCC and the WHO for responding to our appeals. This historic cooperation will ensure treatment that is safe and effective for all children. will save the lives of 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 these children with critical medical and humanitarian care during these difficult times.”

Meanwhile, Tareq Hailat, who heads PCRF’s overseas treatment programme, says: “The courage and resilience of these young patients inspires us every day. Sadly, many more children, like these 15, are in urgent need of medical care and evacuation. This mission represents hope for many families in Gaza and demonstrates the transformative impact of global solidarity. We also look forward to similar missions starting next week in Belgium, Norway and Italy, and we hope they will continue.”