January 16, 2025
Manitoba Government Providing Medical Care to Palestinian Child from Gaza
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The Manitoba government is welcoming a Palestinian child from Gaza and their mother to Manitoba for life-changing medical care, Premier Wab Kinew announced today shortly after meeting them at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport.
“We are responding to the humanitarian crisis by helping this child get the health care they need,” said Kinew. “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.”
The province will host the young Palestinian child from Gaza with complex medical needs who is unable to receive proper health-care treatment due to the war. The medical care will be led by volunteer pediatric surgeon Dr. Melanie Morris.
The child was identified when they were already in Egypt. This allowed Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to complete the necessary admissibility screening and prioritize the processing of their application.
“We are deeply concerned for the well-being of civilians in Gaza, especially children and their families,” said Sport Minister Terry Duguid, minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada. “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.”
The child was identified in co-ordination with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).
“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. “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 Manitoba’s local community, including the Manitoba Islamic Association, have also offered support for the families prior to arriving and once they landed including help with documents, connections to community supports and fundraising to provide basic needs.
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