Today, the first EU-coordinated medical evacuation operation helped 16 severely ill and injured Palestinian children from Gaza and their family members travel from Egypt to Spain for medical treatment. The EU has been fully supporting the coordination of the activities to medically evacuate Palestinian patients to Europe in response to the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism by the WHO.
This operation, financially and operationally supported by the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) in close coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), and the authorities of all countries involved, is focused on providing targeted medical evacuations for several children in urgent need of medical care.
However, while humanitarian experts have welcomed the move, they have also described it as a “drop in the ocean” as the war has a devastating impact on Gaza’s children.
“As the ongoing health and humanitarian tragedy in Gaza worsens, vulnerable patients are being left without the lifesaving treatment and care they need. We must redouble our efforts to ensure safe medical evacuations for those in urgent need, particularly children,” Stella Kyriakides, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, noted.
Since the beginning of the crisis, the EU has provided strong support for the health response in Gaza through its humanitarian partners. In 2024, 23% of the EU’s humanitarian budget has been allocated to address health-related issues in Gaza, totalling €32.5 million.
Since early January, the EU has also backed the WHO’s Gaza Emergency Medical Team Coordination Cell in Cairo with 22 experts from the EU and the participating countries of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. The Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC), in collaboration with EU health and consular services and respective EU Delegations, is in communication with the Member States, WHO, and all relevant partners to facilitate these operations, which are expected to continue in the coming weeks. So far, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain have offered assistance for medical evacuations, including treatment for patients, as well as transportation.
“At a time when the remaining hospitals in Gaza are overwhelmed, and access to healthcare is severely affected by the ongoing war, medical evacuations are more crucial than ever. I thank Spain and the other EU Member States who offered assistance for their commitment to Palestinians needing urgent medical care. Israel and all the actors involved in these operations must continue honouring their commitment and facilitate the needed access for evacuations to continue,” said Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management.
