First of two children from Gaza to get medical treatment in Manitoba arrives

A Palestinian child from Gaza is set to get life-changing medical care in Manitoba.

Premier Wab Kinew greeted the child and their mother at the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport on Thursday, shortly before the effort was announced publicly.

“We are responding to the humanitarian crisis by helping this child get the health care they need,” said Premier Kinew in a news release.

“Throughout Manitoba’s history, we have welcomed those fleeing violence to the beautiful province we are lucky to call home. There will always be people around the world willing to help people who need it, and those are Manitobans.”

In a post on his Instagram, Kinew said the child was the first of two who will be arriving in Manitoba.

The province will host the youngster from Gaza as they receive medical care for complex needs, which they are unable to get at home due to the ongoing war, the treatment led by volunteer pediatric surgeon Dr. Melanie Morris.

Identified while in Egypt and brought to Manitoba with the help of Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the news release indicated the child’s location allowed Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to complete the necessary admissibility screening and prioritize the processing of their application.

“Today’s announcement of a patient from Gaza arriving in Canada to receive needed care is good news,” said Dr. Jason Nickerson, humanitarian representative to Canada, MSF in the news release. “It is good news for the patient who will receive medical care that they urgently need and reminds us of our shared humanity.”

Volunteers from the province, including the Manitoba Islamic Association, have offered to support the family prior to them arriving in Manitoba and will be connecting them to community support, assisting them with documents and fundraising to ensure their taken care of. 

Terry Guguid, MP for Winnipeg South and the current Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, thanked the province for its efforts to ensure the child received care. 

“We are deeply concerned for the well-being of civilians in Gaza, especially children and their families,” said Duguid in the news release.

“We thank the government of Manitoba for its generous support in helping bring this family to safety in Winnipeg. This is a powerful example of what governments can achieve together. Canada remains committed to humanitarian aid and global solidarity.”