In a joint effort by the Children Need Us (Kinder brauchen uns) and Baptist Albertina charities in Germany, 59 seriously ill or injured children were airlifted from the Afghan capital of Kabul to the German port city of Hamburg last week.
Thirty German hospitals and speciality clinics will treat the children, some of whom will remain in Germany for the next three months with host families until they are well enough to return to Afghanistan.
Dr Matthias Angrés, Medical Director of Albertina Hospital in Hamburg, stated: "In light of the indescribable need apparent in Afghanistan, we intend to help as long as we are needed. And we want to help as many children as we possibly can."
The children are aged between three and 17 and suffer from a range of illnesses and conditions including life-threatening heart illnesses, as well as conflict injuries such as serious burns and wounds from explosions and gunshots.
Albertina's Chief Executive Officer, Prof Dr Fokko ter Haseborg, said: "This effort promotes understanding between people from differing cultures. We are thereby also supporting and promoting respect between Christians and Muslims."
The children were greeted on their arrival to Hamburg by the Afghan ambassador to Germany, Prof Dr Maliha Zulfacar, who welcomed the venture as an opportunity to build closer relations with Afghanistan.
"This is the way to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people," she said. "This is an important contribution towards the re-establishment of peace and stability in my country."
The Children Need Us charity has transported around 300 ill or injured Afghan children to Germany for medical treatment since 2001. The Albertina charity society is a part of the federation of Baptist congregations in Germany and offers 1,000 hospital places for the sick.
