Recently, Israel’s large-scale invasion of Lebanon has brought destruction reminiscent of the war-torn homes that Gazan children have had to endure. Lebanon had previously served as a refuge for wounded Gazan children escaping the conflict in Gaza over a year ago. Ghassan Abu Sitta, a British-Palestinian surgeon, facilitated the arrival of severely injured Palestinian children to Lebanon through the Ghassan Abu Sitta Foundation. The first child to arrive in Lebanon was five-year-old Adam Afana, who had lost his left arm in an explosion that killed his father and sister. Lebanon, already in a state of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, provided the necessary specialists to treat the wounded children.
The situation took a turn when IDF forces launched a large-scale offensive in Lebanon, resulting in widespread airstrikes that reached Beirut’s southern suburbs and city center. This escalation in Lebanon’s conflict has triggered fear and anxiety among the children receiving treatment in the country, with the sound of airstrikes resembling the beginning of the war in Gaza. While treatment for the children continues in Lebanon, the final operation for Adam Afana, involving muscle transfer and nerve repair in his arm, is currently on hold due to the ongoing unrest. The Ghassan Abu Sitta Fund has stopped bringing in new patients from Gaza, redirecting their efforts towards treating Lebanese children affected by the conflict.
Despite the shift in focus towards Lebanese children, the wounds sustained by them are similar to those of Palestinian children in Gaza. Many children were injured while at home, experiencing crush injuries to the limbs, blast injuries to the face, and the loss of multiple family members simultaneously. The toll of war on children is evident in both Gaza and Lebanon, with thousands of children either killed or wounded in these conflict zones. The Ghassan Abu Sitta Foundation aims to provide the necessary medical care to these children, but the current escalation in Lebanon’s conflict has posed challenges in delivering timely and specialized treatment.
The Ghassan Abu Sitta Foundation had initially hoped to treat 50 Palestinian children from Gaza at a time, but the recent events have forced them to limit new admissions. The focus has now shifted to treating existing patients, including Lebanese children affected by the conflict. In Lebanon, 192 children have been killed, and over 1,255 have been wounded since the conflict began, underscoring the impact of war on innocent lives. The Foundation continues to navigate the challenges posed by the escalation in Lebanon, including delays in specialized surgeries for the children in need. Despite the setbacks, they remain committed to providing essential medical care to all children affected by conflict, regardless of their nationality.
The parallels between the experiences of children in Gaza and Lebanon highlight the devastating impact of war on innocent lives. The wounds sustained by these children, whether in Gaza or Lebanon, are a stark reminder of the indiscriminate nature of conflict. Children, who should be shielded from the horrors of war, often find themselves bearing the brunt of its consequences. As Abu Sitta aptly puts it, “all wars are waged on children,” emphasizing the urgent need to protect and care for the most vulnerable in times of conflict. The efforts of organizations like the Ghassan Abu Sitta Foundation play a crucial role in providing medical assistance and support to children affected by conflict, ensuring that their voices are heard and their wounds are healed, regardless of the challenges they face.
