In recent photos, eight-year-old Jana Ayyad is curled up, her face hidden in her hands. At times, the frail child cries out for her father, who has been trapped outside Gaza since the war began 23 months ago.
Jana is now close to death. Her only chance is to be evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment abroad.
Her health crisis began with severe malnutrition and has led to complications like severe acidosis—a condition where the body’s fluids become too acidic because the kidneys and lungs can’t maintain the right pH balance. Doctors say they lack the supplies to treat it. Over the past month, her body has started to swell, a sign of both malnutrition and acidosis.
“The doctor told me bluntly: ‘Your daughter’s condition is bad; you could lose her at any moment,’” said Nesma Ayyad, Jana’s mother. Two months ago, Jana’s two-year-old sister Joury was hospitalized after suddenly falling ill with a condition that caused her skin to peel and bleed. She died within a month. Ayyad fears that without immediate help, Jana will meet the same fate.
Jana Ayyad urgently needs medical care that doctors in Gaza cannot provide.
Israel controls all movement in and out of Gaza. Those who need medical treatment abroad must get approval from Cogat, the Israeli military agency responsible for Palestinian humanitarian affairs. Palestinians must pass an Israeli security check and find a country willing to accept them.
Officials said they applied for Jana’s medical evacuation to Jordan two weeks ago but are still waiting for Israel’s approval. Jana’s case was submitted along with 10 other children seeking evacuation, but so far, Israel has only cleared two, according to an official involved in the process.
In a statement, Cogat said it had not received a request for Jana’s evacuation.
Dr. Musab Farwana, one of Jana’s doctors at the Patients’ Friends Benevolent Society hospital in Gaza, said: “Jana’s condition is getting worse. We’re doing everything we can with very limited resources to keep her alive until she can be evacuated. Without an urgent transfer, we sadly expect she could die at any moment.”
Jana’s case is urgent, but not unique in Gaza. She is one of more than 16,000 people waiting for medical treatment abroad, according to August statistics from the Gaza health ministry.
Israel’s war on Gaza has left over 150,000 people wounded. The systematic destruction of the territory and its infrastructure has spread disease among the crowded population. Israel’s ongoing blockade of aid—which the world’s leading authority on food crises says has caused famine—has left doctors without the means to treat the sick and starving.
Last month, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification declared that famine was occurring in many parts of Gaza.
The most critical cases are referred for treatment abroad, but doctors and medical authorities say most requests are delayed indefinitely. According to the World Health Organization in December, medical evacuations from Gaza were so slow that it could take up to 10 years to clear the current list of referrals.
Jana’s doctors say they lack both the tools to diagnose her and the supplies to treat her. “Most required lab tests are unavailable, even basic blood acidity tests,” said Farwana. “If we can’t do basic tests, how can we perform the complex ones needed to understand her condition?” He added that Jana needs a specialized, protein-free milk formula, butThe only hospital bed available for Jana was about to be taken away.
After more than a year confined to the hospital, Jana’s physical and mental health have declined severely. She has lost her hair, can no longer walk, and her weight has dropped to just 9kg (20lbs). Most days, she stares blankly into space, deeply depressed.
Jana’s father, Ayyad, remembers her as a child with a strong personality. “She loved playing with dolls, drawing, coloring, and writing,” he said. “She dreamed of becoming a dentist and always told me she would give me a beautiful smile one day. Since she got sick, she hasn’t been able to do any of those things.”
During a medical check-up on Tuesday, Jana turned to her mother and asked, “Am I going to die now?” Neither her mother nor the doctor knew how to answer.
Over the past 18 months, Jana’s worsening condition has drawn media attention. Yet despite international awareness, she has not been able to leave Gaza or receive the treatment she desperately needs.
Her mother has tried everything, facing endless paperwork and bureaucratic obstacles in a race against time to save her daughter. She feels her pleas are being ignored.
Ayyad expressed his frustration: “All I’ve been told is that the referral process is moving along, but nothing has changed. Why is Jana’s case so complicated? Why can’t anyone in the world help get her out of Gaza?”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the situation designed to be clear concise and helpful
General Beginner Questions
Q What is this story about
A Its about an eightyearold girl in Gaza with a lifethreatening health condition Her family is urgently asking for help to get her out for the medical care she cannot receive there
Q What is the girls name and condition
A While specific details can change these cases often involve children with illnesses like cancer severe heart defects or other conditions requiring specialized treatment surgery or constant medication that is unavailable in Gaza due to the war and blockade
Q Why cant she get the help she needs in Gaza
A Gazas healthcare system has been devastated by the conflict Hospitals lack electricity medicine clean water and functional equipment Many are overwhelmed with war wounded making complex pediatric care impossible
Q Who is trying to evacuate her
A Typically her family works with international organizations like the World Health Organization the Red CrossCrescent or other NGOs that specialize in medical evacuations from conflict zones
Process Logistics Questions
Q What does medical evacuation actually involve
A Its a complex process of securing safe passage out of Gaza arranging transportation obtaining visas and permits from multiple governments and having a receiving hospital in another country agree to treat her for free or at a reduced cost
Q Why is it so difficult to get her out
A The main obstacles are securing safe passage through active war zones getting approval from Israeli and Egyptian authorities for both the patient and accompanying family members to cross the border and cutting through immense bureaucratic red tape quickly
Q Where would she go for treatment
A She would likely be taken to a specialized pediatric hospital in a neighboring country like Egypt or Jordan or sometimes to hospitals in Europe or North America that have agreed to take such cases
How to Help Advanced Questions
Q How can I help this girl and others like her
A You can help by donating to reputable NGOs on the ground that facilitate medical evacuations You can also raise awareness by sharing verified news from credible sources to keep pressure on officials
