Passengers who lacked the strength to walk were assisted onto the plane using wheelchairs and stretchers. Some of them had been undergoing treatment in Egypt, while others came directly from Rafah, a town in southern Gaza that shares a border with Egypt.
“I was enjoying a peaceful day by the sea, thinking it was a safe place to be. Suddenly, without any warning, four rockets struck us. The impact left me injured, and tragically, my beloved grandmother lost her life,” shared Yara, a brave 13-year-old survivor. Today, Yara relies on a feeding tube as she continues to recover from her severe stomach injury.”
Yara was among approximately 100 patients who were being evacuated on an Emirati flight to Abu Dhabi for further medical treatment. This mission, the 13th of its kind, involved a round-trip flight starting from Abu Dhabi and flying to El Arish, Egypt, to gather the injured individuals.
The operation was referred to by medics as a “flying hospital.” They arranged beds at the back of the plane, complete with IV drips, ventilators, defibrillators, and any other necessary medical equipment for providing in-flight patient care.
Evacuations to the United Arab Emirates are prioritizing children and adult cancer patients.
Just a few feet away from Yara stood Yazan, a 9-year-old boy whose back had been pierced by shrapnel. He had undergone surgery and had to endure multiple amputations to treat his injury.
Yazan shared a heartbreaking story of tragedy as he recounted, “I was playing with my sister when our house was suddenly shelled, and tragically, she was martyred.”
In a single strike, five-year-old Siraj tragically lost his right leg, as well as both of his parents and two of his siblings.
“He longs to walk again, just like the other children,” expressed his grandmother, Taghred Majdi. “I am hopeful that he will be able to receive a prosthetic.”
According to Dr. Jehad Awad, one of the doctors treating Yara, Yazen, and Siraj, malnutrition has emerged as a significant concern alongside burn and amputations. The doctors on the flight have observed that children have been experiencing weight loss, iron deficiencies, and delayed healing due to a lack of proper nutrients.
According to Awad, he observed that these individuals experience a significant amount of malnutrition. He further explained that they are weak due to a lack of proper nutrition and medication.
Earlier this week, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) issued a warning, stating that famine in Gaza is “imminent.” According to the United Nations, the situation is dire, with one in three children under the age of 2 in the northern part of the Strip already suffering from acute malnourishment.
Yara expressed her distress, “We don’t have any food or water. It’s a struggle to find diapers or milk for my baby sister, and even when we do, they are extremely expensive.”
Yara remained strong despite the challenges she faced. While there is still a lengthy recovery process ahead of her, she maintains a hopeful outlook on her journey to healing. Yara aspires to pursue a career as a reporter in order to share the stories of Gaza, or perhaps become a pediatrician to provide assistance to others, just as she has received help during her own recovery.
