We know this relocation is a big change, and we understand the emotions and uncertainty it can bring. That is why we have focused on finding sustainable accommodation where the families can stay together, feel part of a community, and have easy access to essential services – medical and dental care, schools, grocery shops, halal food outlets, and places of worship – all within walking distance. The new accommodation is the only option available that meets both the need for medical care and the wishes of the families to be close to one another to provide mutual support. 

We are keen to support the families to relocate in time for school enrolment as it will significantly help their children’s integration to start on the first day of the new school year, alongside their new classmates. Since their arrival to Ireland, the families have told us how important school attendance is for their children and we are keen to support this. We strongly believe that the accommodation in the North West supports both the medical needs and the wishes of the families and that this is a supportive community environment. 

March 2025 – We informed the families that the accommodation in Dublin would not be available from September and that we were searching for appropriate alternative accommodation. The families expressed their wish to stay together so they can provide support for each other, to continue to have ‘own door’ accommodation and their desire for their children to attend school. From March through to August, we engaged with the families to update them about our search for suitable accommodation for them.  

May 2025 – Following careful assessment, the medical team at Children’s Health Ireland determined that six of the Gazan families who are in Ireland for medical treatment are now in a stable medical situation and can safely transfer their care from Dublin to a regional health centre in line with the Gaza medevac medical treatment plan. The families of children who require ongoing specialist treatment will remain in Dublin.  This enabled us to broaden our search for suitable accommodation. Medical access was the priority and together with the CHI team, we explored a range of potential transfer options. We engaged with a wide range of stakeholders in seeking options, including asking community-based supporters of the families to come forward with any potential locations. We worked to ensure that accommodation met the specific needs of each family. Aside from the North West, other locations in Ireland were considered but deemed not suitable for a number of reasons including insufficient access to treatment, not being ready for occupation, did not provide adequate privacy or space, and did not provide families with an ‘own door’ accommodation solution whilst also allowing them to remain together. 

July 2025 – We agreed the plan to relocate the families to the North West. We strongly believe that this accommodation supports both the medical needs and the wishes of the families to be close to one-another to provide mutual support. It also offers a supportive community environment with access to supports and services within walking distance. 

• The Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) coordination team has worked closely with the local hospital and local providers to ensure continuity of care. The families will have full access to appropriate local medical and mental health services.  

• Some individuals will require to return to the medical team in Dublin, but this will be only every six weeks, and the Irish Red Cross will arrange private transport for any specialist appointments in Dublin. 

• We secured new accommodation which enables the families to stay together, feel part of a community, and have easy access to essential services – medical and dental care, schools, grocery shops, halal food outlets, and places of worship – all within walking distance.  

• We engaged with the Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT), community groups, schools and creche providers and are satisfied that this is a suitable and supportive environment for the families. The integration team lead in the local authority is also a native Arabic speaker.  
• The Local Authority Integration Team have assured us that they are ready to help the families to adapt and integrate, to show them local centres and services including halal outlets, the mosque and to assist the mothers with school enrolment for their children.  
  

25 July 2025 – As part of our engagement with each family we advised that their transfer of care and relocation to the North West would commence in the coming weeks and that the Irish Red Cross would continue to support each family and assist them with the coordination of the move. This involved a verbal briefing, followed by a written communication in English and Arabic. It included information from the medical team at CHI customised for each family to confirm that there would be no negative impact on the medical care because of this move.  

We explained that our focus is to support the families to relocate in time for their children to start the new school year, as we appreciate how important school attendance is to the families. We also explained that our Arabic-speaking caseworkers will continue to provide the same dedicated, wraparound support the families have received since their arrival in Ireland. The caseworkers will work with the individual families to support them with the move.  

9-12 August 2025 – We listened to the feedback from the families and in response we organised a series of meetings to ensure that every single concern from the families was addressed. We amended the date for relocation so that a balance can be struck between facilitating the needs of each family and ensuring a timely move that will align with dates for school enrolment. It is important for integration that the children start on the first day of term, along with their new peers.  

The meetings included: 

• An online ‘town hall’ meeting on Saturday 9 August. This 3-hour meeting provided an opportunity for the clinical head of the Gaza Medevac team at Children’s Hospital Ireland to answer all questions, from both the community volunteer supporters and family members who were attended the meeting.  

• An in-person meeting took place on Monday 11 August for all the family members. This meeting provided a two-hour period for the three medical specialists involved in the care of the family members to hear from the families and answer any queries they had. 

• Follow-up meetings also took place on 11 and 12 August with the individual family groups and the programme managers of the Irish Red Cross to hear and fully address any concerns raised.  

• Irish Red Cross staff and the medical professionals involved continue to engage with the families regarding their care and the transfer of their cases to the medical teams in the North West. As is the case with hospital transfers, there will be a detailed case handover to ensure continuity of care. We will work directly with each of the families to facilitate this.    

13 August – We continue to liaise with each family directly to support them through this change. We are working to facilitate the move in time for the enrolment of children in schools and starting on the first day of the new school year.