Gaza Children Evacuated for Urgent Medical Care Amidst Collapsing Healthcare System
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A growing number of sick and wounded Palestinian children are being evacuated from Gaza to receive critical medical treatment in European hospitals as the region’s healthcare infrastructure buckles under the strain of ongoing conflict. The evacuations highlight the desperate conditions facing civilians, particularly children, within the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian journalists reported on Thursday, July 14th, that at least 10 children, all injured or suffering from war-related illnesses, have been transported with their families to international hospitals for immediate care. This emergency response underscores the severity of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
Severe Malnutrition and Liver Disease Among Evacuees
Among those recently evacuated are siblings Abdullah and Habiba Zarqa, who are battling severe malnutrition and liver enlargement. Habiba’s condition is particularly critical, with her illness progressing to the point of causing bloody poisoning, according to reports.
Another case is that of Sham Qudaih, a young Palestinian girl who was transported to hospitals in Italy for urgent treatment after a significant deterioration in her health. “The Seventh Day” previously documented Sham’s struggle with severe malnutrition for over a year, which has left her body extremely fragile and caused significant organ damage, including liver enlargement and severe bloating.
A “War of Systematic Thirst”
The dire situation is compounded by a critical shortage of basic necessities, including drinking water. A spokesperson for the government media office stated that the ongoing conflict has resulted in what they describe as a “war of systematic thirst” against the Palestinian people in Gaza, a flagrant violation of international and humanitarian laws.
“We live in a tent and the girl does not bear her heat and does not adapt to him, her day begins with crying and screaming from the intensity of heat,” explained Sham Qudaih’s mother, detailing the family’s struggle to survive. “We suffer a lot with the family in repeated displacement besides providing the needs of my daughter, and we have been displaced about 10 times or more, and we face many difficulties in food and in the water and sometimes we did not get it. We buy it with money and there is nothing without money.”
The mother’s testimony paints a harrowing picture of life within the sector, characterized by constant displacement, food insecurity, and a desperate lack of access to essential resources. The ongoing conflict has created a situation where even the most basic human needs are becoming increasingly unattainable, leaving vulnerable populations like children at extreme risk.
