Cairo, July 29, 2024 – The Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF) is pleased to announce the successful evacuation of young Palestinian children from Gaza, who will receive vital medical treatment in Belgium. Some of these children are diagnosed with cancer. This operation is conducted as part of the framework reached between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Commission to coordinate evacuations and medical treatments across Europe.

Today, the children, aged between 6 and 11 years, who are already in Egypt, along with their companions, including mothers and siblings, will be transported from Cairo East Air Force Base to Melsbroek Air Base in Belgium. The evacuation will be facilitated by a Medevac flight operated by the state of Slovakia.

Vivian Khalaf, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of PCRF, said:“This mission is the result of months of coordination between PCRF, WHO and European Commission” adding “we are grateful to the governments of Egypt, Belgium and Slovakia, and everyone who is helping us save these young lives.”

Tareq Hailat, Head of PCRF’s Treatment Abroad Program, added: “This evacuation represents a critical intervention in providing these young patients with the medical care they urgently need. We remain dedicated to providing life-saving care to more children from Gaza through ongoing international partnerships.”