More than 100 critically ill and injured children in Gaza could soon receive treatment in the UK after the government announced plans to provide NHS care for those in urgent need.
On Sunday, the government revealed it would evacuate children from Gaza for medical treatment under a new scheme expected to launch within weeks.
While campaigners welcomed the move, they urged ministers to act quickly, warning that children waiting for UK medical care have died or been forced to seek treatment elsewhere.
“We’ve had children on our list before, but because approval takes so long, some have died waiting,” said Omar Din, co-founder of Project Pure Hope (PPH) and an NHS primary care executive. “The government needs to move faster.”
Through a private initiative, PPH has already brought three children to the UK this year. Their efforts will now serve as a model for the new taxpayer-funded scheme, which will run alongside existing programs.
“It’s not too late—there are still many children who can be helped,” Din said. “But we should have done this much sooner.”
The UK’s decision comes as Gaza faces severe starvation and famine due to Israel’s aid blockade. Over 50,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 12,500 patients need medical evacuation. Humanitarian groups are calling on more countries to assist.
Last month, a charity took legal action against the government for refusing medical evacuations, despite past precedents. Over 100 MPs also pressured ministers to act.
Charities hope around 100 children—along with guardians and possibly siblings—will be allowed into the UK. PPH has identified 30 to 50 children in urgent need, while Children Not Numbers (CNN) has 60 requiring immediate evacuation.
Many healthcare workers and others are willing to donate time and money to help. “Between our NHS and private healthcare systems, with government support, we can expand services to help more children,” Din said.
Compared to countries like the US, Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE—which have evacuated over 7,000 patients—Din urged the UK to step up efforts.
One child PPH tried to help had fourth-degree burns covering 40% of his body. Delays in government approval meant he was eventually taken to Italy in June, along with a one-year-old with a congenital disease. The charity has also helped evacuate patients to the UAE and Jordan.
“We’ve created a blueprint, gathered resources, and mapped out the process,” Din said. “Now the government must use its full power to scale this up urgently.”
Last month, CNN sued the Home Office and Foreign Office over their refusal to allow medical evacuations. A spokesperson said 71 children they were assisting had died due to insufficient care.Patients in Gaza have faced poor treatment, medicine shortages, and delays in medical evacuations since advocacy groups first urged the prime minister to establish an evacuation plan last November.
“This is deeply disappointing,” a CNN spokesperson said. “We’ve waited nearly ten months for action.”
The charity reported that 60 critically ill children were prepared for evacuation, with their paperwork and medical records awaiting final approval from Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). Médecins Sans Frontières has repeatedly called on Israel to allow more patients to leave Gaza and to be more flexible, citing frequent rejections by COGAT.
“We’re ready to move as soon as we get government approval,” the CNN spokesperson added.
A Foreign Office spokesperson stated that a cross-government taskforce had been formed to expedite the new evacuation plan.
“We are advancing efforts to evacuate more children from Gaza who need urgent medical care, including bringing them to the UK for specialized treatment when it’s the best option,” they said.
