“Very pleased to see this news,” says Frith, one of 96 MPs who urged urgent medical evacuation for Palestinian children
Bury North MP James Frith has welcomed the news that the first group of critically ill and injured children from Gaza will be brought to the UK in the coming weeks for lifesaving NHS treatment.
Frith, who joined 95 other MPs in writing to the government earlier this month, said he was “very pleased” with the development, calling it a vital step in providing hope and care to children caught in the war.
Between 30 and 50 children are expected to be evacuated under a new government operation coordinated by the Foreign Office, Home Office and Department of Health. These will be the first arrivals via an official UK-backed scheme, separate from previous charity-run initiatives.
Medical staff in Gaza will select the children based on clinical need. The World Health Organization will then coordinate the evacuation process, including travel documents and exit permits from Israeli authorities. Each child will travel with up to three accompanying family members, stopping in a third country where biometric checks will be completed before arriving in the UK.
“This is the first real step in responding to the catastrophic harm Gaza’s children are facing,” Frith posted on Facebook. “We must remain committed to doing everything in our power to give these young lives a fighting chance.”
The cross-party group of MPs had warned that Gaza’s collapsing healthcare system was putting thousands of children at risk of imminent death and urged the UK to remove any remaining barriers to evacuation.
Children accepted onto the scheme will be treated by the NHS and supported with housing, food and mental health care. The government will cover all costs associated with treatment and resettlement. However, returning the children to Gaza may not be possible in some cases, raising the possibility of asylum claims after recovery.
The UK’s action follows months of advocacy, including pressure from organisations like Project Pure Hope, which has already helped bring a small number of Gazan children to the UK independently.
More than 50,000 children have been killed or injured in Gaza since the war began in October 2023, according to UNICEF. Over 60,000 people have died overall, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The Israeli military launched its offensive in response to Hamas-led attacks on 7 October that killed around 1,200 people and saw more than 250 taken hostage.
The government has confirmed this initial group will not be the last, but further evacuations will depend on logistics, capacity, and the evolving situation in the region.
The children are expected to begin arriving within weeks, with NHS care teams already preparing for their treatment and rehabilitation.
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