Majid Shaghnobi, a 15-year-old boy, has become the first Gazan child to arrive in the UK for medical treatment after enduring severe injuries from a tank shell explosion in Gaza. Arriving at Heathrow Airport with his family, Majid expressed his happiness about receiving care, despite his difficulties with speech and eating due to his injuries.
Majid's ordeal began in February 2022 while he was attempting to secure humanitarian aid in the Kuwaiti area of northern Gaza when an Israeli tank shell collided nearby, shattering his jaw and injuring his leg. Rescued by a friend, he was initially deemed dead by doctors until he managed to signal his survival. After months of treatment in Gaza, he was finally evacuated to Cairo with the appropriate permissions before making his way to the UK.
His arrival is a significant milestone as it comes nearly two years into a devastating conflict resulting in the deaths and injuries of more than 50,000 children according to Unicef. Project Pure Hope, an initiative launched by volunteer medical professionals, aims to facilitate the transfer of injured Gazan children to the UK for medical care, funded by private donations.
Majid is set to undergo surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where a dedicated medical team, including craniofacial and plastic surgeons, will work pro bono. Lead surgeon Professor Noor ul Owase Jeelani emphasized the importance of restoring Majid's ability to communicate and feed himself. He expressed disappointment over the lengthy delay in treating Gazan children and highlighted the initiative's urgency in addressing the health crises facing these vulnerable individuals.
Project Pure Hope has identified additional critically injured children in Gaza whom they hope to assist. Co-founder Omar Din stressed that each day of delay jeopardizes the lives of these children, underscoring the urgent need for governmental support.
In parallel, another initiative has successfully brought two Gazan girls, 13-year-old Rama and 5-year-old Ghena, to the UK for medical treatment. Both girls have shown remarkable progress since their arrival, though they continue to worry about their family members still living in Gaza, where access to food and safety remains at critical levels.
Majid, sharing his concerns about his brothers left behind, echoes the sentiments of many survivors who grapple with the trauma of war and the anxiety of their loved ones' safety. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, characterized by widespread starvation and disease, poses dire threats to the health and future of countless families.
