Four Palestinian children urgently requiring cancer treatment have been evacuated from Gaza to Belgium on Monday.
The children were previously in Egypt and were transported to the Melsbroek military airport in Belgium for medical treatment via the country’s B-Fast emergency relief agency service.
B-Fast, along with outgoing ministers Hadja Lahbib (Foreign Affairs), Caroline Gennez (Development Cooperation), and State Secretary Nicole de Moor (Asylum and Migration), have confirmed the report to the Belga News Agency. Belgium made an offer of aid several weeks ago and has not ruled out further assistance, as per the surrounding discussions from the announcement.
The request for help originated from Egypt and was directed to both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. The children’s flight from Egypt to Melsbroek was handled by Slovakia.
To aid this operation, B-Fast had dispatched two representatives from the ministries of foreign affairs, development and health, for a few days to coordinate with healthcare services and local authorities, B-Fast specified.
Government members emphasised the importance of providing such aid considering the overwhelming need in Gaza. "With this medical evacuation, we show our solidarity with all innocent child victims… Europe should, and can, do more to end Gaza’s suffering," outgoing Development Minister Gennez said.
"Surviving in Gaza is a daily challenge, more so for those suffering from severe illnesses such as cancer… Our country remains fully committed at the diplomatic and practical level, to providing aid and saving as many lives as possible," added Foreign Minister Lahbib.
