As many lives in Gaza still hang in the balance, the suffering of the most vulnerable, especially children, is coming to light.
In different wards of Nasser Hospital, two 10-year-old boys illustrate the human cost of the ongoing crisis—one shot by Israeli fire and paralyzed from the neck down, and another stricken with a brain tumor.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 15,000 patients in Gaza require urgent medical evacuations amid a fragile ceasefire.
The health crisis is compounded by the difficulty of accessing medical care. Ola Abu Said, a mother whose son Amar is paralyzed from a stray bullet, explains the urgency and complication of his surgery. He needs surgery urgently, but it's complicated. Doctors told us it might cause his death, a stroke, or brain hemorrhage. He needs surgery in a well-equipped place,” she says.
The WHO has begun coordinating medical evacuations, but progress remains slow due to contentious issues surrounding border crossings. While the UN agency has successfully facilitated a limited number of evacuations, Israel has kept essential crossings closed, citing security concerns related to Hamas.
Families wait anxiously as the health infrastructure in Gaza crumbles, with hospitals lacking essential treatments. Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital, describes the heart-wrenching situation, It's the most difficult feeling for a doctor to witness suffering without means to act. He added that sadly, without immediate action, more children will perish as the waiting continues.
