Medical evacuations to Spain provide life-saving care to Palestinian children
In July, a complex evacuation involving multiple health partners ensured that 15 sick and injured children are now receiving specialized care at hospitals throughout Spain.
WHO/Europe is calling on countries in the European Region to urgently scale up the evacuations of sick and injured Palestinians requiring critical medical care.
In this regard, Spain has set an example for other countries to follow.
In July, 15 Gazan children and their caregivers were evacuated from Egypt to Spain. The evacuation was supported through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in partnership with WHO. The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund facilitated the patients’ documentation and evacuation approvals.
The Government of Egypt supported the children’s care while they were there, and 6 Spanish government ministries provided additional support for the evacuation.
Congresswoman and nurse Alda Recas was part of the organizing mission to Cairo, helping to ensure that the complex medical evacuation of 15 children from Egypt to Spain in July 2024 went smoothly.
Highlighting Spain’s resolve, she says, “This evacuation shows that when you want to do something, you can”.
“I am proud because we put in a lot of effort, and we continue to do so, so that these children who had suffered so much can have a chance at a better life in Spain. We are proud to show the rest of Europe that Spain is a country with a strong spirit of solidarity.
Regardless of what happens with this war, we will continue to support anyone who suffers, and if they are in our care, we will find a solution to give them a better life.”
Alda Recas meets an injured Palestinian patient medically evacuated to Spain in July 2024.
Congresswoman and nurse Alda Recas passionately believes that more must be done – by Spain and other countries – to support the people of Gaza by facilitating future evacuations of sick and injured Gazans.
“Europe must wake up; Europe must put their foot forward and support a population that is suffering. Without a doubt, the message for the European Region must be clear: it is our moral obligation to do this. Spain did it, and every other country can do it.”
Inside the Hercules plane that flew patients from Cairo to Madrid
Congresswoman and nurse Alda Recas is committed to ensuring Spain’s involvement in future evacuations.
“From the moment we received a Hercules plane from the Ministry of Defense, we were certain of our commitment to these evacuations,” she says. “We are evaluating all options to continue bringing more patients to Spain.”
Thirty-three-year-old Iman Almajayda and her 6-year-old twins, Samar (left) and Eleen (right), are from Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip. Today they live in Spain, where Eleen is receiving treatment for leukaemia, a form of blood cancer.
“The families we have spoken to had to leave their loved ones behind. Some mothers tell us that they have more children in Gaza, or that they had to leave their parents or siblings behind. But because their child is sick, they make the impossible choice to leave everything behind.
This sense of loss goes straight to your heart. You hear about a child who was a star athlete but has lost his legs, a 2-year-old who cannot speak because of a bullet lodged in his head. You listen to these stories, and you understand the profound sacrifices these families make as they adapt to a new life in a new country. But a parent will do anything for their child. You make the decision to leave your family behind, because your child’s life depends on it,” adds Recas.
Mónica García Gómez, Minister of Health of Spain, welcomes Palestinian children arriving in Spain.
WHO has appealed for the establishment of multiple medical evacuation corridors to ensure sustained, organized, safe, and timely passage of patients via all possible routes.
Israel has committed to facilitating the urgent medical evacuation of sick and injured women and children from Gaza to receiving countries in Europe via the Kerem Shalom border crossing and Eilat Airport (Ramon Airport).
Dr Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, is intensifying his personal outreach to Member States in the WHO European Region to expedite evacuations and to appeal for more hospital slots to receive patients.
Dr Kluge is also encouraging other countries to follow Spain’s example. “We are truly thankful to Spain, a WHO European Region Member State, for responding so willingly to our request to accept several children from Gaza for critical treatment, which is now a template for other countries to follow.”
WHO once again calls for an end to the war, as peace is ultimately the best path to health.