21 Ukrainian children flown to UK for life-saving cancer treatment
March 14, 2022, 5:41 pm

21 Ukrainian children flown to UK for life-saving cancer treatment

Human cancer (File photo: Pixabay)

The BBC repported, the health secretary has said that a group of Ukrainian children have arrived in the UK to undergo life-saving cancer treatment on the NHS.

Sajid Javid said the 21 children would be offered the best possible care in hospitals around the country.

The children and their immediate family members arrived on an urgent flight arranged by the government on Sunday after a plea from Polish officials.

They will be assessed by doctors before being sent to appropriate hospitals.

Mr Javid said: "I am proud that the UK is offering life-saving medical care to these Ukrainian children, who have been forced out of their home country by the Russian invasion while undergoing medical treatment."

"I know that the incredible staff in the NHS will ensure they get the best possible care."

Russian invasion against Ukraine (File photo: Euromaidan Press)

Nine medics from Southampton Children's Hospital flew to Poland to fetch the children.

The hospital said: "The families were so incredibly grateful and the stories they told were horrific."

The government is to set out details of a scheme to allow people in the UK to welcome Ukrainian refugees into their home later - but special provision has been made for the group needing urgent care.

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Hundreds of Ukrainians have seen their treatment interrupted by the war, as Russian forces lay siege to cities and hospitals' supplies dry up.

Many children have been evacuated to Poland, where the authorities appealed for help in caring for them.

One paediatric oncologist in Poland told BBC News most of the children arriving at her hospital were in a life-threatening situation.

The Department of Health said that those arriving in the UK will undergo an assessment to understand their specific health needs before getting treatment at an appropriate NHS hospital.

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It added that the UK has already sent more than 650,000 medical items to Ukraine as part of its humanitarian response to the crisis.

He added that Mr Javid told BBC Breakfast seven flights have taken aid from the UK to Ukraine including wound care packs, equipment for intensive care and vital medicines. An eighth took off on Monday morning.

NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said the NHS would continue to work with ministers to provide both the necessary supplies and the "crucial treatment" the children need.

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She added: "Colleagues at paediatric hospitals around the country have gone above and beyond to help these children during their greatest hour of need."

Source: BBC

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Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.