Gaza mother worries time running out for evacuation of malnourished daughter

 

In Gaza, the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with local hospitals overwhelmed and resources stretched to breaking point. Nasma Ayad, a mother in Gaza City, is desperately seeking medical evacuation for her 8-year-old daughter, Jana, who is severely malnourished and deteriorating rapidly. Jana weighs only 11 kilograms and suffers from edema due to a lack of protein and food. Her condition has worsened since last year, when she initially received treatment for malnutrition. But after a temporary recovery, the lack of consistent medical support and food has led to a dangerous relapse.

Jana’s older sister, Joury, tragically died in July after her kidney issues were made worse by the same conditions now afflicting Jana. Both girls had been on a patient evacuation list since September 2023, but nothing materialized. Now, with limited food, medical supplies, and growing concerns over access to aid, Ayad fears she is losing another child.

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Medical professionals in Gaza are struggling to treat complicated malnutrition cases under war conditions. Suzan Marouf, a therapeutic nutritionist, explained that Jana’s body is retaining fluid and swelling due to extreme protein deficiency a common complication among severely undernourished children.

The war’s impact on healthcare and food access continues to have deadly consequences. According to Gaza’s health authorities, at least 156 people have died from hunger-related causes, including 90 children most in the past few weeks. International outrage is growing as more images of starving children emerge, but delays in aid delivery persist, leaving many lives hanging in the balance.

International efforts to deliver aid to Gaza remain stalled. Despite announcements by Israel to ease aid restrictions, the United Nations’ World Food Programme said it is still unable to get the necessary permissions to bring in enough supplies. Israel and the United States accuse Hamas of stealing aid an accusation Hamas denies. The U.N. says it has not found major evidence of aid theft but continues to struggle with getting food and medicine to those in need.

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Families like Nasma Ayad’s are caught in the middle of these accusations and blockages. She continues to call for help, hoping her daughter Jana can be evacuated before it’s too late. “I feel I’m slowly losing my daughter, day after day,” Ayad said, describing her child’s worsening state. Her plea underscores the urgent need for international coordination to allow lifesaving evacuations for the most vulnerable, especially children with life-threatening conditions.

Aid organizations warn that a worst-case famine scenario is already unfolding. The global hunger monitoring body recently issued a dire warning that unless swift action is taken, more widespread deaths could occur. The lack of food is now as deadly as the violence itself, and humanitarian agencies are urging all parties to prioritize civilian needs.

Meanwhile, accusations continue to fly between Israel, Hamas, and the U.N. over who is responsible for the failure to deliver aid. The result, however, is tragically clear on the ground: more children dying, more families mourning, and thousands facing starvation with no clear path to relief. For Jana and children like her, the next few days may be a matter of life or death unless urgent evacuation and aid delivery efforts are ramped up immediately.

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