Overview

• On Thursday the cabinet said it will assess temporary transfers for children who need complex, high‑specialist treatment, are in direct life danger, and lack immediate regional care.
• This marks a shift from the earlier stance that treatment should be provided in neighboring countries rather than in the Netherlands.
• Utrecht says it is ready to receive patients and help coordinate arrivals, including facilitating contacts between the cabinet, Prinses Máxima Centrum, and UMC Utrecht.
• Dutch university medical centers report they can treat tens of children, with Prinses Máxima Centrum and UMC Utrecht on standby to provide specialist care.
• Humanitarian groups welcome the move as life‑saving but warn the need is far greater, citing UNICEF’s estimate that 3,800 children require evacuation and reports that regional hospitals are overfull, while details on numbers and timing are still being worked out with WHO input.