Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper recently visited courageous young individuals who were evacuated from Gaza for urgent medical treatment.
One of the children, 8-year-old Mohammed, had his leg amputated due to bomb explosions near his residence in Khan Younis. Following initial treatment at a Gaza field hospital, he was transferred to Amman, Jordan, where he underwent surgery and received a prosthetic leg. After three months of rehabilitation, Mohammed successfully regained his ability to walk, run, and climb stairs. During Ms. Cooper’s visit to the Specialty Hospital in Amman, where Gaza evacuees are receiving medical care, she commended Mohammed for his bravery and encouraged his aspiration to become a police officer like his father.
Additionally, Ms. Cooper interacted with Sarraa, 17, and Sara, 15, who sustained severe injuries in a bombing incident in December 2024. The sisters endured a traumatic ordeal, with Sara left paralyzed and Sarraa suffering multiple injuries, including a fractured leg and head trauma. Following their evacuation to Jordan, Sarraa underwent plastic surgery for her injuries, while Sara showed signs of recovery, regaining partial use of her upper body.
Dr. Osama Hamed, a surgeon who has made several trips into Gaza, described the dire healthcare situation in the region. He highlighted the scarcity of medical supplies, malnutrition among patients, and the challenges faced by healthcare providers due to the destruction of medical facilities.
Ms. Cooper emphasized the UK’s commitment to aiding in the reconstruction of Gaza’s healthcare system and expressed readiness to accommodate more medically evacuated patients for treatment in the NHS. She mentioned ongoing discussions with international partners, such as Saudi Arabia and Germany, to enhance healthcare support in Gaza and rebuild its health services.
The efforts to restore Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure and continued assistance through medical evacuation processes underscore the collaborative initiatives aimed at addressing the healthcare crisis in the region.