Two Palestinian Children Arrive in the UK for Life-Saving Medical Treatment
24 April 2025
The Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF) announces the successful evacuation of two Palestinian children from Gaza to the United Kingdom to receive critical medical treatment. This evacuation was made possible through PCRF’s ongoing collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and in partnership with the humanitarian initiative Project Pure Hope (PPH) for this mission. The evacuation marks the first patient transfer to the UK, representing a critical step in an international effort to provide urgent medical care to children suffering amidst the ongoing crisis in the Strip.
Ghina and Rama, the two young girls, aged 5 and 12, arrived in London from Egypt this week, accompanied by their mothers and a sibling. Their conditions—though pre-existing—require urgent, highly specialized treatment that is currently unavailable in Gaza, where the collapsed healthcare system has left them untreated and at risk of further deterioration.
Both children will be receiving care in the private wings of leading London hospitals, supported by multidisciplinary teams including surgical, pediatric, and psychological specialists.
“We are deeply grateful for our ongoing collaboration with the WHO and for the partnership with Project Pure Hope in this mission, which made this critical medical care possible,” said Vivian Khalaf, Chairwoman of the Board at PCRF. “This mission is a testament to our relentless determination to save lives, even in the face of overwhelming obstacles and prolonged, complex evacuation procedures. But this is just one success—countless critically ill and injured children in Gaza are still waiting. The need is urgent, and we must respond with the urgency this crisis demands, both in Gaza and beyond.”
This evacuation is the result of 17 months of sustained coordination between UK clinicians, government agencies, and international humanitarian organizations. The arrival of these patients in the UK contributes to a growing network of global medical relief efforts led by PCRF and its partners.
“Gaza’s healthcare system is operating far beyond collapse, with children suffering from conditions that require specialized, often unavailable care,” said Tareq Hailat, Director of Global Patient Affairs at PCRF. “Our role is to identify these urgent cases, coordinate with international medical teams, and ensure continuity of care from initial assessment to post-treatment recovery. This evacuation reflects the need for a growing global network of medical solidarity to reach children trapped in crisis.”
Since October 2023, PCRF has secured the evacuation of critical cases of Palestinian children from Gaza for treatment in the US, Middle East, South Africa, Europe, and Egypt. At the same time, PCRF has led medical missions in Gaza and across the region, while continuing to deliver essential humanitarian aid for children and families in Gaza. The organization remains fully dedicated to supporting the children of Gaza in the dire circumstances they face.
For media inquiries: Dareen Al Khoury, [email protected], Ruba Abu Zughod, [email protected]
About Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF)
The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF) is a non-political, non-profit organisation that provides medical care and humanitarian relief to children in the Middle East, regardless of nationality or religion. PCRF is a volunteer-based nonprofit, founded in 1991 by concerned humanitarians in the USA. It provides free quality medical care to thousands of injured and ill children yearly who lack access to care within the local health care system. For more information about The Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), visit www.pcrf.net
About Project Pure Hope (PPH)
Project Pure Hope was formed by an apolitical group of NHS clinicians and executives, and humanitarian advocates. Their goal: to create a safe, legal, and medically-led pathway to bring a small number of critically ill children to the UK for short-term specialist treatment, then repatriate them to safe zones after their recovery – regardless of their nationality, religion or ethnicity. For more information about Project Pure Hope (PPH), visit www.purehope.co.uk
