BRATISLAVA – For the fourth time, Slovakia has successfully carried out a humanitarian evacuation of pediatric patients from the Gaza Strip, responding to the worsening health and humanitarian crisis in the region. A total of 13 child patients and their family members were airlifted this week in a coordinated international operation.
According to Matej Neumann, spokesperson for the Slovak Ministry of Interior, the mission took place on April 2, 2025, via the ministry’s Air Unit and the EURACARE Flight & Shelter team, under the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
“These evacuations require precise coordination across multiple countries and humanitarian organizations,” Neumann noted. “It’s crucial to ensure proper documentation, medical clearance, and international cooperation.”
From Cairo to Zaragoza
The children were first stabilized at the Greek Hospital in Cairo, Egypt, before being flown to Zaragoza, Spain, on a Slovak government aircraft. The operation was conducted in partnership with Samaritan Association of Slovakia, the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe from Austria and Germany, and supported by the Slovak Foreign Ministry.
The mission was carried out at the request of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) and Spain’s Ministry of Health.
“Seventy-five percent of the mission’s costs will be reimbursed through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism,” said Neumann.
EU-Supported Rapid Response Team
The EURACARE Flight & Shelter team was established by the Slovak Ministry of Interior with support from the European Union, designed for rapid deployment in emergencies requiring medical air evacuations.
The team has also been involved in prior missions, including the evacuation of Slovak citizens from Lebanon in October 2024 and from Israel in October 2023.
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