In brief
"In the midst of escalating violence, two-year-old Ivana sustains severe burns from an Israeli missile strike in southern Lebanon. Her father's heartbreaking account and the challenges facing medical staff reveal the dire consequences of ongoing conflict."
Ivana's family was on the brink of fleeing their home in southern Lebanon when tragedy struck. An Israeli missile landed just outside their door on September 23, leaving the two-year-old with third-degree burns covering almost half her body. As she lies in a hospital bed in Beirut, her tiny form is obscured by bandages, a reminder of the devastating impact of war on innocent lives.Her father, Mohammed Skayki, paints a vivid picture of that fateful afternoon, recounting the chaos and despair that ensued. He describes how the missile exploded a mere ten meters from their family home in Deir Qanoun En Nahr. "We were ready to move, we had our stuff packed," he recalls. The sound of the explosion shook their house, and he rushed to save Ivana as debris fell around them. The family only managed to escape with their phones and a small amount of cash.Both Ivana and her older sister Rahaf were injured in the blast, with Rahaf sustaining less severe harm, enabling her to be discharged and find refuge with relatives. Graphic scars mark Ivana’s body – a disheartening contrast to her previous image as a cheerful, carefree child. Yet, according to Dr. Ziad Sleiman, one of the surgeons treating Ivana, she displays extraordinary courage. "She's so brave, so strong," he notes, marvelling at her resilience despite the painful treatment she endures.Lebanon's healthcare system has become an additional casualty of the ongoing war, experiencing numerous attacks that have endangered medical personnel and facilities. According to the World Health Organization, there have been 23 verified assaults on healthcare in the past month alone. The Lebanese health ministry highlights more than 200 attacks on emergency responders and accuses Israel of violating International Humanitarian Law.The Israeli Defense Forces assert their operations are directed against Hezbollah, viewing the group as a terrorist organization that misuses medical infrastructure, while denying any intentional targeting of civilians or medical workers.Within the overworked burns unit at the hospital, the medical team continues to treat a growing influx of patients suffering from severe injuries, largely due to civilian casualties caused by warfare. Dr. Sleiman expresses deep concern over the trauma faced by his patients, emphasizing that the victims are routinely civilians and children, not combatants, sharing a grave reality marred by war.Mohammed Skayki, while grappling with the devastation brought upon his family, remains conflicted about expressing anger towards those accountable for his daughter's suffering. "I am not happy. A soldier for a soldier, not a civilian... These are children," he reflects bitterly. His words encapsulate the sorrow felt by many families caught in this cycle of violence.Ivana is scheduled for discharge in ten days, but her family's plight endures, as they cannot return to the southern region that continues to endure relentless bombardment. Dr. Sleiman solemnly remarks that the path ahead shows little sign of resolution, predicting more stories like Ivana's as the conflict persists. "Every war ends with so many losers. Everybody will lose," he cautions, revealing the harsh truth for countless families engulfed by the turmoil of war.
