In brief
A report details the harrowing experience of two-year-old Ivana, who sustained severe burns from an Israeli missile strike as her family attempted to flee their home in southern Lebanon. As her father recounts the trauma, medical staff are left grappling with a growing influx of patients amid increasing violence, illustrating the broader humanitarian crisis.
In a sobering account of the toll of conflict on innocent civilians, two-year-old Ivana is receiving treatment for third-degree burns that cover nearly half of her body, the result of an Israeli missile strike in southern Lebanon on September 23. As her father, Mohammed Skayki, tries to comfort her in the burns unit of Geitaoui Hospital, he recalls the moment that changed their lives forever, just as they were preparing to escape from their home in Deir Qanoun En Nahr.On that fateful day, as Israeli bombardments intensified, Mohammed had his daughters ready to leave, their belongings packed. “The strike was close, around 10 meters from our house,” he shares, still in shock. “I saw the little one – she was all black because of the missile dust. I carried her as explosions rocked our home." With time slipping through their fingers, the family fled with little more than their phones and a small amount of cash.Ivana's older sister, Rahaf, suffered less severe injuries and is currently recovering with relatives. Mohammed pulls out a cherished photograph of Ivana from before the attack: her bright eyes and soft curls contrasting painfully with the reality of her current state, her once-vibrant hair now obscured by bandages and scars.Dr. Ziad Sleiman, one of the plastic surgeons caring for her, notes her resilience: “She is so kind. Even when we change the dressings, she does not shout or cry. She is brave.” The burns unit is in high demand, filled with patients who have suffered from similar devastation; Lebanon’s healthcare system already grapples with the consequences of ongoing violence.Recent attacks on healthcare facilities have compounded the suffering, with the UN verifying numerous incidents impacting medical personnel and buildings, marking a blatant violation of International Humanitarian Law. Dr. Sleiman expresses his frustration, revealing that amid the casualties, the victims are almost entirely civilians, many of whom are women and children caught in the crossfire.“We do not have soldiers here; all the victims are civilians,” he laments.With each passing day, the doctors witness the pain caused by the war, knowing that, if the conflict continues, many more families will face tragedies similar to Ivana’s. The heart-wrenching sentiment expressed by Mohammed resonates deeply: “I am not happy. A soldier for a soldier, not a civilian.” His comments cast a light on the relentless cycle of violence that leaves no true winners.As Ivana receives treatment—having already undergone skin grafting from her lower limbs—her family remains displaced, unable to return home. Amid the chaos, Dr. Sleiman fears a grim outlook, stating, “Every war ends with so many losers. Everybody will lose.” The echoes of loss reverberate not only through the hospital but across the war-torn landscape of Lebanon.
