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In a rare and poignant development, two young girls from Gaza, Rama and Ghena, have become the first children from the war-torn territory to be granted visas for medical treatment in the United Kingdom since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023.
Rama, 13, suffers from a lifelong bowel condition, while five-year-old Ghena has a congenital problem affecting her left eye. Both girls, accompanied by their families, arrived in London at the end of April after a harrowing journey that included evacuation to Egypt. Their cases highlight the severe limitations of Gaza’s healthcare system, which has been devastated by ongoing conflict and shortages of medical supplies. Many hospitals in Gaza have been destroyed, and even basic procedures are impossible to perform, leaving only the most urgent cases to be treated.
Their evacuation and treatment have been made possible by Project Pure Hope, a humanitarian initiative led by Dr. Farzana Rahman and Omar Din, which raised £1.5 million to cover the costs of their journey, accommodation, and private medical care in the UK. Ghena has already undergone a successful operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital to relieve pressure on her optic nerve, though she will require ongoing care. Rama is still undergoing diagnostic procedures and further surgery is anticipated.
The arrival of Rama and Ghena in the UK is a stark contrast to the situation for thousands of other children in Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 7,000 patients have been evacuated since the war began, 5,000 of whom are children. Most have gone to Egypt, the UAE, or Qatar, while some European countries—including Spain, Italy, Ireland, Norway, and Romania—have accepted 197 children for treatment. The UK has so far admitted only Rama and Ghena.
Medical professionals and humanitarian advocates have criticized the British government for its slow response and limited intake, especially compared to other European nations. Dr. Victoria Rose, a consultant plastic surgeon who has worked in Gaza, expressed frustration at the government’s reluctance to approve more cases, noting that many procedures required by Gazan children are relatively straightforward and could be handled by the UK’s world-class specialists.
Life in London has offered the girls a respite from the trauma of war, allowing them to experience normal childhood activities for the first time in months. However, their families remain deeply concerned for relatives still in Gaza, where food and medical supplies are critically scarce. Both mothers, Rana Qudieh and Haneen Abed, have expressed hope that more children will be allowed to access life-saving treatment abroad1.
A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office stated, “The UK is committed to alleviating Palestinian suffering and helping build stability in the Middle East. UK support has provided essential healthcare to over 430,000 people in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as privately funded medical care in the UK for several children with complex paediatric conditions”.
“If you see all these children suffering and looked away, how can you be human? Where is the mercy?”
— Haneen Abed, mother of five-year-old Ghena
Disclaimer:
This article is based on information available as of July 2025, primarily sourced from Observer.co.uk and corroborated by other reputable news outlets. The situation in Gaza and UK policy toward medical evacuations are subject to ongoing developments. For the most current information, consult official government statements and humanitarian organizations.
