Urgent Medical Evacuation Halted: Toddler’s Life at Risk in Gaza as Doctors Sound Alarm

In a heartbreaking situation, 2-year-old Habiba al-Askari faces a life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical evacuation from Gaza. Doctors warn that gangrene is rapidly spreading up her arms and legs, and without immediate treatment, her days may be numbered. Habiba suffers from a rare genetic disorder known as protein C deficiency, which leads to excessive blood clotting and potentially fatal complications. Unfortunately, the healthcare system in Gaza has deteriorated significantly due to ongoing conflicts, making it impossible for her to receive the necessary care locally.

Earlier this month, international aid organizations engaged in a complex process to secure permission from Israeli authorities to evacuate Habiba for medical treatment. Fortunately, she was granted formal permission to leave Gaza, as confirmed by COGAT, the Israeli agency that oversees movement in and out of the region. Following a CNN report highlighting her plight, Jordanian authorities were prepared to transfer her to Amman for urgent medical intervention.

However, in a devastating twist, Israeli authorities delayed the evacuation at the last moment, leaving her family and medical team in a state of despair. As her condition continues to deteriorate, Habiba remains in Gaza, with her health worsening by the hour.

“My heart wanted to just take her with me in my arms and run across the border with her,” said Rana, Habiba’s distraught mother, during an emotional conversation with CNN. “Habiba’s life is in danger now. I do not understand why they won’t allow her out to get medical treatment. What crime did she commit?”

Despite attempts to reach COGAT for comments regarding the delay, they have not responded. The United Nations reports that Habiba is among at least 2,500 children in Gaza who urgently need medical evacuation. Under a recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, measures were supposed to be in place to facilitate the exit of Gaza residents for medical care. However, there have been no evacuations from Gaza in the past two weeks, with the last occurring on January 16, which involved only 12 patients being transferred to European countries.

Approximately 12,000 people in Gaza are still waiting for medical evacuation, as stated by the UN. COGAT previously reported that they had enabled 24 medical evacuations for 1,075 Gaza residents seeking care in recent months.

On Thursday morning, Habiba was admitted to an intensive care unit in Gaza, suffering from a suspected lung infection. Surrounded by both local and international medical professionals desperately trying to stabilize her, she lay barely conscious, moaning in pain with each labored breath. Tragically, her arms and right leg have turned black due to gangrene. Medical experts have indicated that her right leg will likely need to be amputated, and it may already be too late to save her arms.

Gangrene poses a severe risk, as it can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening infection that spreads through the bloodstream, increasing the likelihood of rapid organ failure and death. A senior official in Jordan has stated that they are actively pursuing Habiba’s evacuation request with Israeli authorities and are prepared to act immediately.

With the healthcare system in Gaza severely compromised, doctors lack the proper diagnostic tools to accurately assess Habiba’s condition. Dr. Mohamed Kuziez, an American pediatrician who recently volunteered in Gaza, expressed his concerns about the situation. He first treated Habiba several weeks ago in Gaza City and monitored her care as medical teams awaited Israeli permission for her transfer.

Upon returning to the United States, Dr. Kuziez was devastated to learn of her dramatic decline. “I’m trying to be there to support the mom, to try and provide whatever medical advice we can offer,” he said, fighting back tears. “But in the back of my mind, I am worried it may have gotten too far. There’s still hope for her, but it’s just decreasing by the minute.”

Dr. Kuziez is haunted by the thought that if Habiba had received timely treatment, her condition might have been manageable. He lamented, “My heart wanted to just take her with me in my arms and run across the border with her.” He warned that blocking her evacuation would be tantamount to a death sentence. “For anyone with medical knowledge, it seems like a deliberate push to essentially kill this child. There’s no other way to describe it. This child needs emergency critical care.”

As the situation unfolds, the urgent need for intervention grows more pressing. The plight of Habiba al-Askari serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing healthcare crisis in Gaza, where countless individuals are unable to access the medical care they desperately need.

For those interested in helping, various international aid organizations are working tirelessly to address the healthcare needs of children like Habiba in Gaza. Supporting these organizations can make a significant impact in providing critical medical assistance to those in dire situations.