In brief
As Ivana fights for recovery in a Beirut hospital, her father recounts the harrowing moment their family was caught in an Israeli missile strike, illustrating the painful reality of civilians caught in conflict amidst a backdrop of escalating violence in Lebanon.
In a heart-wrenching tale from southern Lebanon, a father recalls the devastating day when his daughter, Ivana, was severely burned by an Israeli missile. The two-year-old girl now lies in the burns unit of Geitaoui Hospital in Beirut, her delicate frame swathed in bandages after suffering third-degree burns that cover almost half of her body. On the noon of September 23, as Israeli bombardments intensified, Mohammed Skayki and his family had packed their belongings in preparation to flee their home in Deir Qanoun En Nahr. They had no specific evacuation order, but the ominous sounds of explosions grew alarmingly close. “We were ready to move,” Mohammed recounted, “the strike was close, around 10 meters from our house, right by the front door." The blast shook their home as Ivana's older sister, seven-year-old Rahaf, played on the balcony. “I saw the little one – she was all black because of the missile dust," said the distraught father, who scrambled to rescue his daughters from the falling debris. With only their phones and fifty dollars in hand, the family narrowly escaped their shattered home. Rescue efforts whisked Ivana and Rahaf to the hospital, where the younger girl's injuries were assessed as devastating but not unsurvivable. Her recovery has inspired the medical staff. Dr. Ziad Sleiman, one of the two plastic surgeons in charge of her treatment, remarked on Ivana's bravery during painful dressing changes, noting her calm demeanor amidst the chaos surrounding her. “She’s a special, special baby. She’s so brave, so strong,” he said. The surge of civilians injured due to the ongoing conflict has overwhelmed Lebanon's already strained healthcare system. According to a report from the Lebanese health ministry, there have been numerous attacks on health care facilities by Israeli forces. The UN has verified significant assaults on hospitals, leading to extensive injuries and deaths. As he sat by Ivana’s bedside, Mohammed expressed his deep sorrow and frustration over the brutality of war. “I am not happy. A soldier for a soldier, not a civilian,” he stated. “These are children, a baby.” He emphasized a painful truth that resonates far beyond his own family’s suffering: “I don’t want to be a murderer like them.” Despite the ongoing bombings, the medical staff at the hospital persist in their vital work, treating those caught in the crossfire. Dr. Sleiman shared the painful reality of their situation: “Every war ends with so many losers. Everybody will lose.” As Ivana prepares for discharge in the coming days, her family remains displaced, their lives upended by violence they never chose. The scars of war will linger in the memories of the survivors, with stories like Ivana's highlighting the human cost of conflict that affects innocent lives.
