Desperate Children from Gaza Arrive in Jordan for Urgent Medical Care

Twenty-nine sick children from Gaza have arrived in Jordan for urgent medical care, as part of a larger initiative to evacuate 2,000 children. They are in urgent need due to various conditions including amputations and heart defects. The transfer faced delays but has commenced with assurances of return post-treatment, although geopolitical uncertainties remain.

In a significant development, twenty-nine seriously ill children from Gaza have arrived in Jordan seeking specialized medical treatment. They are the first group of 2,000 children that the Jordanian government has pledged to accept from the Gaza Strip. This initial group includes individuals with severe injuries such as amputees, infants with heart defects, and children afflicted by shrapnel wounds. Cancer patients are also expected to be evacuated in the upcoming days.

The transfer of these children was delayed for several days but finally proceeded on Tuesday. While some patients were airlifted from the Gaza border, the majority traveled by road, crossing through Israel to reach the Jordanian border. The World Health Organization has reported that approximately 4,500 children in Gaza are in urgent need of medical assistance.

One of the children, a six-month-old girl named Naveen, suffers from a heart defect and is perilously underweight. Her mother, Enas, described the dire situation in Gaza: “It was difficult in Gaza, there was no treatment I could get for her. She was losing weight. She is now six months old and she hasn’t put on even one kilogram in the last six months. And in the tents my daughter got ill, she is suffering a lot.” Enas traveled with her fifteen-year-old daughter Jenna, leaving many family members behind, including twin sons.

Naveen is currently receiving medical care in a hospital in Amman and is undergoing tests. In a related political context, Jordan has dismissed former President Donald Trump’s proposal to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza but expressed willingness to provide medical treatment for these evacuated children. The Jordanian government has assured that the children and their guardians will be allowed to return to Gaza after completing their treatment, although it remains uncertain whether Israel will grant them re-entry, especially given the current volatile ceasefire situation.

The evacuation of severely ill children from Gaza to Jordan underscores the urgent medical needs within the region. With reports indicating that approximately 4,500 children require urgent care, this initial group of twenty-nine marks a critical step towards addressing their health challenges. While the children are assured of returning to Gaza post-treatment, the geopolitical uncertainties surrounding this process pose additional concerns. The commitment from Jordan to facilitate this transfer highlights both humanitarian efforts and the complexities involved in the ongoing conflict.

Original Source: news.sky.com