Middle East Gaza's Ailing Children Endure Agonising Wait for Evacuations

[CharlieH]

 

 

Abdel Karim Wahdan, an eight-year-old in Gaza, is fighting for his life due to chronic kidney failure. The condition, initially acute, has worsened into a severe health crisis as he navigates life between hospital visits and painful medical procedures. His plight is exacerbated by malnutrition, a consequence of the dwindling resources available in Gaza.

 

Abdel Karim's mother, Najwa, describes the hospital as his second home, a place where doctors can offer limited relief. She watches helplessly as her son endures the daily challenges of his illness. Despite her urgent efforts to secure medical evacuation abroad, which offers his only hope, the wait continues. Four months have passed since she filed for a medical referral, yet approval remains elusive.

 

Abdel Karim is one among thousands in Gaza trapped in similar circumstances, relying on medical evacuations that are slow to materialize. Zahir al-Wehadi of Gaza’s health ministry highlights over 16,000 patients urgently needing treatment outside Gaza. Tragically, more than 600 have died waiting for the chance to leave.

The blockade by Israel, alongside sustained attacks on medical infrastructure, has crippled Gaza’s healthcare system. Hospitals are overwhelmed, lacking the necessary supplies to provide adequate care. In many cases, doctors write referrals hoping for treatment abroad, but such requests must be approved by Cogat, Israel's military agency overseeing Palestinian affairs.

 

The World Health Organization has criticized the slow pace of medical evacuations, projecting that it might take five to ten years to address the current backlog. For families, this waiting game is torturous, with no control over the timeline or the outcome.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has rapidly deteriorated over the last 22 months, resulting in more than 61,000 deaths. Overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and scarce access to clean water further exacerbate health challenges, creating a breeding ground for disease.

 

Abdel Karim’s condition reflects a broader mental and physical decline. Once a bright child with dreams of becoming a doctor, he now struggles with significant irritability and withdrawal. His mother's heart aches as she recalls a time when Abdel Karim was different, full of life and ambition.

 

Others, like 15-year-old Nidal al-Jourani, share parallel stories of hardship. Nidal’s experience underscores the devastating consequences of delayed treatment. Injured while exhibiting bravery to aid others, his condition deteriorated until kidney failure claimed his life, just days shy of an approved medical evacuation.

The challenges in Gaza’s medical landscape are compounded by shortages of basic medicines and equipment, as described by Ragheb Warsh Agha, head of the gastroenterology department at al-Rantisi children’s hospital. The severe scarcity forces hospitals to place multiple children in single beds, fostering the spread of infection.

 

The blockade has amplified concerns of famine, weakening immune systems and complicating recovery efforts. Aid organizations warn of a worst-case scenario playing out, with Israel attributing the crisis to UN inefficiencies—a claim aid groups contest.

 

For families, the bureaucracy governing medical evacuations is a poignant source of frustration. The constant waiting and uncertainty turn a potentially life-saving process into a prolonged agony.

 

Gaza’s health crisis, marked by tragedy and preventability, highlights the complexities of regional conflict and underscores the urgent need for global intervention. The stories of children like Abdel Karim emphasize the dire human cost within this ongoing struggle. Their experiences are somber reminders of the humanitarian urgency in Gaza, calling for a coordinated, compassionate response to alleviate suffering and restore hope.

 

 

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Guardian 2025-08-13