A child from Gaza and his mother were greeted with open arms at the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport on Thursday.
Premier Wab Kinew, who was at the airport to welcome the family to Winnipeg, says the province will help provide the young boy with life-changing medical care.
“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.”
Due to the ongoing war, the Palestinian child, who suffers from complex medical needs, cannot receive proper care. In Winnipeg, he will receive what he needs from a medical team led by volunteer pediatric surgeon, Dr. Melanie Morris.
The child was identified in coordination with Doctors Without Borders who were already in Egypt. This helped quicken the pace of getting the child to Canada, by allowing Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to complete necessary screening and prioritize their application.
“The 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.”
Manitoba’s local community, including the Manitoba Islamic Association, are also stepping up to provide the family the support they need, including help with documents, connections to community supports and fundraising for basic needs.