Approximately 4,500 children in Gaza require urgent medical care. Recently, 29 ill children were evacuated to Jordan for specialized treatment, with plans for more to follow. This initiative highlights the urgent humanitarian needs arising from the ongoing conflict, despite uncertainties regarding their return to Gaza post-treatment.
The World Health Organization reports that approximately 4,500 children from Gaza urgently require medical care. Recently, twenty-nine critically ill children have arrived in Jordan for emergency specialized treatment. These children represent the first group of 2,000 that the Jordanian government has agreed to accept from the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip, which includes those with severe injuries such as amputations and heart defects, as well as children with shrapnel wounds.
The evacuation process, initially delayed by several days, successfully took place on Tuesday. While a few patients were airlifted from the Gaza border, most traversed by road, passing through Israel to reach the Jordanian border. It has been announced that cancer patients will also be evacuated in the upcoming days.
Among the evacuated children was six-month-old Naveen, who suffers from a heart defect and is significantly underweight. Her mother, Enas, expressed despair, stating, “It was difficult in Gaza, there was no treatment I could get for her. She was losing weight… in the tents, my daughter got ill, she is suffering a lot.” Enas traveled with Naveen and her fifteen-year-old daughter Jenna, leaving behind the rest of her family, including twin sons.
Naveen is currently hospitalized in Amman for further tests. While Jordan has rejected former President Donald Trump’s proposals for forcibly relocating Palestinians from Gaza, King Abdullah assured that these children would receive treatment when he met with Trump at the White House. Jordan has stated that the children and their guardians will be permitted to return to Gaza following their medical treatment, although the situation surrounding their return remains uncertain due to the ongoing conflict.
In conclusion, the urgent medical needs of children in Gaza are increasingly recognized, with Jordan stepping up to provide crucial care for those in dire conditions. This initiative reflects a significant humanitarian response amidst ongoing conflicts, although uncertainties regarding their return to Gaza persist. The plight of children like Naveen emphasizes the dire circumstances faced by many families in the region.
Original Source: news.sky.com