As many as 30 children from Iraq with congenital heart diseases have been operated upon at a private hospital in Delhi, according to a statement from the hospital.

Max Healthcare, in collaboration with Iraq's Ministry of Health, carried out these surgeries, it said, adding that more such surgeries are planned in the next 10 days.

"The delay in the arrival of these children owing to travel restrictions during the pandemic has resulted in deterioration of their health condition owing to increased co-morbidities. They required urgent surgical intervention and made post-operative management more challenging," said Dr Kulbhushan Singh Dagar, Chief Surgeon and Head, Neonatal and Congenital Heart Surgeries, at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket.

"We have already operated on over two dozen Iraqi children so far and they are doing well post-surgery. Some of them have also returned to their country. Over the next 10 days we will perform more corrective surgeries," he added.