In brief
Lamis Abusalim, a 13-year-old from Gaza, faces a critical health crisis following surgery for scoliosis in a UAE hospital. Her story highlights the immense difficulty in accessing medical care amidst the ongoing conflict, despite the help from international organizations and humanitarian bodies.
Lamis Abusalim, a resilient teenage girl from Gaza, is fighting for her life in a UAE hospital after surgery complications for severe scoliosis. This journey began when her heart stopped three times during the procedure, resulting in brain damage. Her mother, Shatha Abusalim, reveals the family's struggle to secure medical treatment amidst the conflict in Gaza, exacerbated by the Israeli military offensive following 7 October's attacks by Hamas on Israel. These attacks triggered a blockade, leaving many Gazans, including Lamis, struggling to access urgent medical care. Initially, Lamis was slated for surgery in Jerusalem but was thwarted by the escalating conflict, prompting her evacuation to the UAE through a complex process involving numerous international bodies. Her story of survival reflects larger challenges faced by the Palestinian people in securing healthcare amidst political tensions and conflict. Repeated appeals and negotiations were made to international organizations, such as the World Health Organization, to facilitate Lamis's evacuation and medical care abroad. Sadly, despite international support, Lamis remains in a precarious state in the UAE, while her family seeks further medical intervention in the UK or elsewhere. Her situation underscores the urgent need for humanitarian reform and the establishment of secure medical corridors to aid Palestinians facing desperate health crises amid ongoing hostilities.
