Four Ukrainian children flown to US for cancer treatment

The United States announces that four Ukrainian children have been flown to an American hospital after their cancer treatment was disrupted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Children are among the most vulnerable in a crisis,” says US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a tweet announcing the evacuation.

He adds that the four patients, from nine months to nine years in age, were “in need of urgent, highly specialized treatment,” and includes some photos of the patients.

Children are among the most vulnerable in a crisis. We are humbled to help airlift 4 Ukrainian pediatric oncology patients in need of urgent, highly specialized treatment to @StJudeResearch. These kids will safely resume critical cancer therapy disrupted by Russia’s aggression. pic.twitter.com/2d3OTAg7IZ

— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) March 22, 2022

After initially evacuating to Poland, the children, accompanied by relatives, were transported on Monday to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, the State Department says.

“There, the patients will be able to safely resume critical cancer therapy disrupted by the Kremlin’s aggression,” says State Department spokesperson Ned Price in a statement.

“We are proud to stand with European partners who are also treating children whose life-saving care in Ukraine has been made impossible by Putin’s war,” he adds.

The State Department notes that European pediatric oncology departments are beginning to reach their limits.

“We are constantly in discussion with our European partners [and] with our Ukrainian partners. If we have an additional ability to bring in special cases like this, we’ll continue to do that,” says Price.