'We care': 2 children from Gaza arrive in NYC for lifesaving medical care

NEW YORK (PIX11) – Today- two children from Gaza arrived in New York City. They will live here while they receive lifesaving treatments.

Abdullah, 8, and his father touched down at JFK airport on Saturday. 2-year-old Tia, her mother, and her sister were with them. 

Both families are from Gaza but were recently evacuated to Egypt due to the ongoing conflict in the region.

Nadia Ali is with Kinder Relief. She says, "They're both suffering from congenital heart disease and will both undergo surgery and extensive treatment for the next three months."

Both Abdullah and Tia will receive their treatment at NYU Langone. 

They’ll be staying with host families on Staten Island and in Brooklyn. Kinder Relief, a new nonprofit helping families in Gaza with children suffering from injuries and illnesses, has organized all the care.

Nadia Ali is the cofounder. Nadia Ali says, "The treatment they are getting is pro bono secured by our team, and our team sustains their livelihood. We take care of their travel expenses while they’re here."

Ali started the group with other concerned moms from around the world.

"What’s being neglected is children who are dying silently, who don’t have war injuries but no longer have access to healthcare. So, in this case, Tia and Abdullah will get lifesaving care they wouldn’t have in Gaza," she added.

Vanessa Barganza agrees. She is a case manager at Kinder Relief and a law student at Columbia University. She says, "These children, if we don’t help them, no one will, and there needs to be as much attention on these kids as possible. This is a purely humanitarian thing, and it’s about how much we care about each other as human beings."

Kinder Relief relies on donations. For more information, go here.