Injured Palestinian children could come to NI for treatment

Stormont's first and deputy first ministers are "close" to an agreement

Stormont's first and deputy first ministers have granted the Department of Health approval to join a UK-wide scheme allowing urgent medical treatment for children from Gaza.

It is understood Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly have agreed by way of "urgent procedure" to enable Northern Ireland's participation in the initiative.

A Stormont source told BBC News NI that a "very modest number" of children - possibly two or three - would be brought to NI under the medical evacuation.

There is no date yet for this to start, but a group of between 30 and 50 critically ill and injured Palestinian children are expected to be evacuated from Gaza to the UK for medical treatment in the coming weeks.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt had previously expressed his support for the scheme.

The urgent procedure mechanism would mean the plan is not required to go to the whole executive for approval.

In a statement the Department of Health said: "Preparations to support a small number of injured children from Gaza with medical treatment are continuing at pace with the UK government and the other devolved administrations.

"This includes ongoing work in relation to operational matters."

What has been the reaction?

TUV leader Jim Allister MP said while it was "right" that Northern Ireland participates in a UK-wide scheme, he did not want those coming here to "acquire residency rights".

"When they come for treatment they have their treatment, and they return because the UK cannot take any more asylum seekers or migrants.

"It's a small number of kids but my key point is they come, they get the treatment and they return - there must be no residency rights attaching to this."

Sinn Féin MLA Declan Kearney said the executive should assist in the efforts to evacuate sick and injured children from Gaza.

"The humanitarian emergency in Gaza is beyond anything witnessed in recent times. Starvation, malnutrition and denial of access to both water and basic medicines are being systematically used against children, women and men throughout the Gaza Strip," he said.

The South Antrim MLA added: "The inhumane blockade must end immediately and an unprecedented flood of humanitarian aid must be allowed to enter the strip."

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw said: "I don't think it'll make a big difference to services here in NI but it'll make a big difference to those individuals.

"We have to play our part for providing healthcare to those most in need."

The Executive Office and the Department of Health have both been contacted for comment.

Severely ill Palestinians have been evacuated from Gaza to other countries since the start of the war, including more than 180 adults and children to Italy.

The UN has warned of widespread malnutrition in Gaza, with experts backed by the organisation warning in a report last month that the "worst-case scenario" of famine is playing out in Gaza.

Israel has insisted there are no restrictions on aid deliveries into Gaza, and has accused the UN and other aid agencies of failing to deliver it.

More than 60,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the Israeli military operation began, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Israel launched its offensive in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

Paperwork still to be worked through

Stormont sources say while the executive is willing to take part in this scheme in principle, a lot has yet to be worked out in practice.

It will be a much smaller in scale programme than the respective Syrian and Afghan resettlement schemes.

Northern Ireland may receive no children at all, and it is likely that only two children, at most, would be treated at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

Questions remain over the status of the injuries of children who could be brought here, what kind of accommodation they and their guardian may need while here and how long they would be likely to stay in Northern Ireland.

A lot of paperwork still has to be worked through and ministers from the four nations will need to finalise plans before any sick children can begin to arrive.

While some parties including the TUV and some DUP MLAs had previously expressed reservations about the potential impact on the health service here, it is understood that officials in the Department of Health are working to ensure no one is disadvantaged as a result of participating in the scheme.