The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the International Child Health Group (ICHG), the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), and Royal College of Nursing (RCN) have requested a meeting with the UK Foreign Secretary to discuss how the Government can best help children and healthcare workers in Gaza.
You can read the full letter below.
As organisations dedicated to the health and wellbeing of children in the UK and globally, we are profoundly alarmed by the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and write to request an urgent meeting with you. We would be grateful for an opportunity to discuss how the UK Government can help protect children and healthcare workers in Gaza, both today and in future.
The UK Government has a responsibility to take all possible steps to help bring an end to this devastating conflict. Today, that call is more urgent than ever. The severe restrictions on humanitarian aid and effects of violence on Gazan children are catastrophic —denying them access to the basic means of survival, including food, clean water, shelter, and medical care-alongside causing injury, psychological trauma and death.
We must all uphold the international commitments we have made to protect and promote the rights of children. These rights are not optional—they are fundamental. Every child has the right to survive and thrive, even in the most challenging of circumstances.
We therefore call on the UK Government to act by pressing for:
- Lifting the near total blockade of food, goods and aid entering Gaza;
- An immediate and permanent ceasefire and return of hostages;
- The safe, effective and unrestricted delivery of politically and militarily independent humanitarian assistance that matches the scale of the crisis;
- Sick children to be allowed to leave Gaza to access treatment in countries who are willing to provide this including within the UK NHS;
- An end to hospitals and healthcare workers being targeted by military attacks in direct contravention of international humanitarian law.
We are encouraged by recent steps taken by the UK Government and urge continued leadership in ensuring that the international community upholds its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.
We would welcome your response and a meeting so we can discuss the above actions which will show that the UK Government is taking strong action to safeguard the rights and health of children in Gaza.
The College is aware of disrespectful and unprofessional activity previously directed towards members who opposed the recent AGM motion on child health in Gaza. The College continues to condemn this behaviour in the strongest possible terms.