A medicalized A400M plane, operated by the Medical Evacuation Unit of the Air and Space Army (UMAER), landed on Wednesday afternoon at Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base in Madrid. Onboard were 15 children from Gaza who are injured or suffering from severe health issues as a result of the Israeli offensive. They will receive medical treatment in various hospitals across Spain.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced their arrival in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He stated, “A group of 15 sick children from Gaza has just arrived. We uphold our commitment to the WHO by providing them with safe treatment and what every child deserves—a healthy and hopeful childhood, no matter where they were born. Welcome to Spain.”
Elma Saiz, the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration, alongside Health Minister Mónica GarcÃa, Defense Minister Margarita Robles, and Minister of Youth and Childhood Sira Rego, greeted the families of the young patients at the airbase. The ministers assured the families of comprehensive care and continuous support throughout their stay in Spain.
Upon arrival, staff from the Ministries of Health and Migration, along with the organization Accem, conducted initial assessments to identify urgent medical needs. Each family was also provided with food, drinks, and essential supplies.
Following this initial reception, the families, who will hold temporary humanitarian visas valid for 90 days, will be taken to provisional accommodations. This will allow them to rest before being moved to their eventual permanent destinations within the country.
At the Torrejón military base, different areas have been set up for initial evaluations to assess urgent healthcare needs, as indicated by personnel from the Ministries of Inclusion and Health. Furthermore, specialized professionals from Accem, a nonprofit organization partnering with the Ministry of Inclusion, will assist the families in their provisional accommodations. They will provide essential information regarding their stay in Spain, such as their final destinations and emergency assistance.
Once settled into their respective accommodations, public health services will immediately attend to the children’s medical needs, offering psychological and financial support to their families, as stated in a communication from the Ministry of Inclusion.
The plane from Wing 31 in Zaragoza departed on Tuesday evening with a team of 19, including doctors, nurses, and health technicians from UMAER. This marked the first medical evacuation of Gaza residents by a European government. To ensure a smooth transfer, 16 stretchers were prepared, including one for critical care, to handle any emergencies en route.
The children are scheduled to be transferred to hospitals in the Basque Country, Asturias, Navarra, and Castilla-La Mancha, as well as Gómez Ulla Hospital in Madrid, which is under the Ministry of Defense’s jurisdiction, all coordinated by the Ministry of Health.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/espana/agencias/2024/07/25/aterrizan-en-madrid-los-15-ninos-gazaties-heridos-y-con-problemas-de-salud-acompanados-de-sus-familiares/
