Children from Gaza who sustained severe injuries in recent conflicts are facing significant challenges in accessing specialized medical treatment abroad, specifically in the United States. This situation follows a suspension of US visas for medical evacuees.
Among those impacted is nine-year-old Mariam Sabbah, who suffered the loss of her left arm and severe internal injuries, including damage to her abdomen, bladder, uterus, and bowel, following an Israeli missile strike in Deir al-Balah. She requires extensive reconstructive surgery, limb lengthening, and a specialist prosthesis. Ten-year-old Ahmed Duweik, who lost an arm and sustained severe shrapnel injuries from a bombing in the Nuseirat refugee camp, experiences phantom limb pain and trauma. Both children were reportedly slated for medical treatment in the US.
The US visa suspension, which an activist publicly hailed as a “victory,” has left Mariam, Ahmed, and other injured children in overcrowded Egyptian hospitals. They remain without clear timelines for receiving critical care, with families reporting increased emotional distress and withdrawal among the children since the potential cancellation of their planned medical travel.
Source: indianexpress.com