Refuge for Wounded Gazan Children in Lebanon
Since the onset of Israel’s conflict in Gaza over a year ago, Lebanon has emerged as a sanctuary for numerous injured Gazan children. Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, a British-Palestinian surgeon who was actively working in Gaza at the beginning of the war, has played a pivotal role in facilitating the arrival of around a dozen severely injured Palestinian children through the Ghassan Abu Sitta Foundation.
The first group of wounded children reached Lebanon in May. Among them was five-year-old Adam Afana, who had nearly lost his left arm in an explosion that tragically claimed the lives of his father and sister. Adam’s arm was left paralyzed, necessitating complex surgical interventions to repair the nerve damage.
At that time, Lebanon was already entangled in a low-level conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. For several months, hostilities were largely confined to the southern border area, away from the bustling capital of Beirut. Dr. Abu Sitta opted for Lebanon as the treatment destination for these wounded children due to the country’s availability of specialists skilled in managing war-related injuries.
Currently, Adam Afana receives physiotherapy at a clinic located in the Mar Elias Palestinian refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon, where he is attempting to regain mobility in his injured arm.
A New Escalation in Lebanon
However, months after their arrival, children like Adam are now ensnared in yet another conflict, raising fears that Lebanon may face destruction akin to that witnessed in Gaza. In September, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) initiated a large-scale military offensive in Lebanon, launching extensive airstrikes that targeted vast areas, including Beirut’s southern suburbs and several sites within the city center.
Adam’s uncle, Eid Afana, expressed his concerns about the escalating situation, stating, “The current escalation in Lebanon reminds us of the early days of the war in Gaza.” He noted that the sounds of airstrikes instilled fear in Adam, who feels as though the war is relentlessly pursuing them. “What we hope for Lebanon is that the devastation we witnessed in Gaza will not be replicated here — that the beginning and the ending won’t mirror each other,” Eid Afana lamented.
Treatment Challenges Amidst Conflict
The Ghassan Abu Sitta Foundation has paused the arrival of new wounded Palestinian children to Lebanon but continues to provide care for those already receiving treatment, albeit with significant challenges. Since arriving in Beirut, Adam has undergone several medical procedures, including an operation to clear infections from his bones, neurosurgery, and regular physiotherapy sessions. He has made progress, being able to slightly clench his hand with considerable effort.
Nevertheless, the final surgery, which involves a muscle transfer and repair of the damaged nerves in his arm, remains on hold. “There are only a handful of specialists worldwide who are trained for this type of surgery, and we were anticipating one of them to come to Lebanon,” Dr. Abu Sitta explained. Unfortunately, this visit has been postponed due to the escalating conflict in Lebanon.
Initially, Dr. Abu Sitta aimed to treat 50 Palestinian children from Gaza at any given time. With the current restrictions on bringing in new patients, the foundation is reallocating its resources to focus on treating Lebanese children.
The Impact on Children
While the number of wounded Lebanese children is still significantly lower than that of their Gazan counterparts, the situation is dire. As of last week, Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health reported that 192 children had been killed and at least 1,255 injured since October 2023. In stark contrast, more than 13,000 children have lost their lives in Gaza, with thousands more sustaining injuries, according to statistics from Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Dr. Abu Sitta observed that the types of injuries sustained by children in Lebanon are strikingly similar to those suffered by Palestinian children in Gaza. Most injuries occurred while these children were at home, resulting in “crush injuries to the limbs, blast injuries to the face,” and the tragic loss of multiple family members in a single incident. “As in Gaza, this war takes its toll on children,” he emphasized. “All wars are waged on children.”
