THE first two patients and their families have arrived in Scotland from Gaza to receive treatment, the Scottish Government has confirmed.
The Government has committed to supporting the treatment of up to 20 children and further arrivals are expected in the coming weeks.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “I am pleased to confirm that the first two patients and their families have now arrived in Scotland where they will receive treatment. Scotland has been pushing the UK Government to do more, and it is welcome they have worked with partners to ensure the first group of Gazan child patients and their families arrived safely.
“We have committed to supporting the treatment of up to 20 children and we expect further arrivals within the coming weeks. This initial support is a small step towards restoring some humanity to the catastrophic situation in Gaza as a result of the Israeli Government’s actions."
Gray said the Scottish Government has been working closely with health boards that will be treating patients and councils that will ensure their families have somewhere to live and receive essential support.
He added: "This is a sensitive process. Clearly these child arrivals from Gaza will have complex care needs and their safety and wellbeing are our top priority.
"It is important these families are afforded with the privacy and support they need and we will not be releasing any other information about the patients.
"No-one should have to suffer the deep trauma and horrendous conditions these children and their families have been living in, and it is right that Scotland welcomes these children and their families."
Gray confirmed Scotland would be taking patients after it was announced by the UK Government that a cross-government taskforce is working urgently to get sick and injured children, who have been targeted by Israel, out of Gaza.
The UK is partnering with the World Health Organization (WHO), which works on the ground and plays a critical role in supporting medical evacuations from Gaza during the ongoing genocide.
More than 50,000 children are estimated to have been killed or injured in Gaza since October 2023, according to Unicef.
