Severely ill children from Gaza requiring urgent medical treatment recently arrived safely in the UK with their immediate families.

As part of the Gaza medical evacuation operation, these young patients are now receiving the urgent medical care they need at NHS hospitals, while their immediate family members are getting appropriate support during their stay.

The healthcare situation in Gaza remains incredibly difficult, with many unable to access even a basic level of care and increased difficulties for those who require specialist treatment and support.

A cross-government taskforce has been working intensively over recent weeks to co-ordinate this complex humanitarian operation.

The children and their immediate family members were evacuated from Gaza to Jordan, where they were supported by British Embassy staff and robust security checks were undertaken prior to their arrival into the UK.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

No one can fail to be distressed by the devastating impact the war has had on the children of Gaza, and I cannot imagine the fear and anguish their families have endured. It is a soul-destroying situation that compels us to act.

Every child deserves the chance to heal, to play, to simply be able to dream again. These young patients have witnessed horrors no child should ever see, but this marks the start of their journey towards recovery.