Huda Abu Al Naja, 12, from Gaza. As she works to overcome acute malnutrition, the experience has caused a marked difference on her body and overall health. Once a vibrant child, Huda now exhibits sunken eyes and thinning hair, which has faded from black to almost blonde due to her condition. Since late May, she has spent nearly every day in hospitals. Her worsening condition calls for highly specialized treatment that is only available outside of Gaza. Huda’s mother, Somaya Abu Al Naja, has made it her mission to receive permission for her daughter to exit the enclave for treatment. Yet she encounters a maze of hurdles in this complex endeavor.
Huda’s health has worsened greatly over the past months. Her body weight dropped drastically from 35 kilograms down to a mere 19 kilograms. This severe malnutrition has caused her to become anaemic, a result of her poor diet, which is critical for her recovery. Medical professionals have noted that Huda’s condition is exacerbated by the ongoing siege on Gaza, which limits access to necessary nutritional resources. Until then, she is still one of the 35,430 children currently in treatment for severe acute malnutrition across the northern region.
Life in Limbo
Huda’s daily life is centered on her condition, as she deals with life-threatening fatigue and muscle weakness. She describes her inability to perform basic activities, stating, “I’m spending all my time sleeping, I don’t go anywhere.” Her mother expresses this concern as well, noting that malnutrition has affected her daughter’s energy levels.
When I do want to walk, sometimes I can’t — I have no energy. I want food and water, I want meat and eggs,” Huda says, reflecting what is a very sad reality. The lack of these bare essentials doesn’t just wear on her physical health — it wears on her mental health, too.
For Somaya Abu Al Naja, there is still hope that Huda’s story will have a happy ending. “I ask that my daughter gets out of here and gets treated and becomes like any child in the world, practising her right to play and run and go to school like any child in the world,” she pleads. An aching desire to experience a carefree, normal childhood echoes painfully through her statements.
Challenges of Evacuation
Intra-emergency hurdles are no exception, if despite the desperate need for medical intervention, Huda’s potential evacuation brings up several roadblocks. Somaya clarifies that leaving Gaza involves a process of obtaining permission from Israeli authorities, making their already hopeless circumstances even more difficult. She explains that without this authorization, they are still stuck behind the gates of the bubble.
Since October 7, that same week’s rescue efforts were only able to evacuate around 2,640 patients from Gaza. This comes out to less than four people evacuated per day. This statistic highlights the hurdles that people in emergencies, such as the recently wounded Huda, encounter when trying to access important medical treatment.
Doctors and medical professionals have documented their concern for Huda’s health situation. Fidaa Al Nadi, a healthcare worker involved in Huda’s treatment, states, “We arranged for a referral for her to be treated outside, but until now, until this moment, she has no opportunity to leave Gaza to have her treatment.” Al Nadi adds that Huda suffers from a disease of malabsorption that necessitates a special diet that is currently unattainable due to the ongoing blockade.
The Reality of Malnutrition in Gaza
Huda’s story is not uncommon. It underscores a broader health crisis facing all of Gaza’s children. The reality of a ground offensive and a two-year siege have made it challenging for families to find enough nutritious food for their children.
Fidaa Al Nadi further emphasizes the implications of Huda’s insufficient diet: “Her deficient diet and her deficiency of her special diet makes her more vulnerable to infection and makes her case deteriorate and health deteriorate rapidly.” This underscores the desperate need for action not only for Huda, but for thousands more who are experiencing similar plight.
Israeli authorities have said they have streamlined exit procedures for Gaza residents seeking medical treatment since March. Huda’s situation has not changed, as no official request has yet been made for her. The bureaucracy that surrounds evacuation only complicates the extend complexity around this already heartbreaking story.
