An eight-year-old girl in Gaza faces imminent death as she waits for medical evacuation approval that could save her life. The child, suffering from severe malnutrition and related complications, has seen her condition deteriorate dramatically over recent months.
Medical staff report they lack both diagnostic equipment and treatment supplies to properly care for the young patient. Her body has swollen significantly, a common symptom of her condition, and her weight has dropped to just nine kilograms. She has lost her hair and the ability to walk, spending most days staring blankly while battling depression.
The child’s mother described how her daughter once dreamed of becoming a dentist and enjoyed playing with dolls and drawing. Now, the girl recently asked her mother during a medical examination if she was going to die—a question neither her mother nor doctors could answer.
Medical authorities submitted evacuation requests for the child and ten other critically ill children two weeks ago, seeking transfer to Jordan for specialized treatment. Only two children from that group have received approval to date.
The situation reflects a broader crisis, with over 16,000 Gazans awaiting medical treatment abroad according to recent health ministry statistics. Medical professionals note that the current pace of evacuations would require years to clear the existing backlog of urgent cases.
Hospital staff continue to provide what care they can with limited resources, fighting to keep the child alive until evacuation becomes possible. Meanwhile, her family waits in anguish, hoping for approval that could mean the difference between life and death.
