Displaced Gaza Doctor Provides Free Medical Assistance to Children from His Tent, Reports Reuters

By Saleh Salem

RAFAH, Gaza Strip – A long line of anxious parents waiting outside pediatrician Rajaa Okasha’s makeshift tent highlights the urgent need for medical services after four months of an ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, which has disproportionately affected children.

Working tirelessly under a canvas shelter on sandy ground with limited medical supplies, Okasha treats numerous sick and injured children amid a crisis that has left nearly all residents of Gaza homeless.

Having fled his home in Beit Hanoun, the first area targeted by Israel’s ground offensive, Okasha is also homeless, finding refuge in Rafah, located on the border with Egypt. "When I see a child, I feel compelled to provide treatment and help," he expressed, explaining his motivation for establishing a free pediatric medical center in Rafah.

Inside the tent, a nurse tends to a toddler’s foot while a weary mother cradles her baby. The atmosphere is filled with the sounds of fussing and crying, reflecting the distress of many families.

The conflict began after a Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of 250 according to Israeli sources. Consequently, the Israeli military’s air and ground offensive has reportedly killed over 28,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the Hamas-controlled enclave, resulting in severe humanitarian consequences.

As Okasha examines a distressed baby, the line of parents stretches back through the tent and spills into the bustling area of Rafah, known for its market stalls. Israel has announced plans to extend its military operations into Rafah, where over a million displaced individuals have gathered, prompting warnings from aid organizations that an attack on the city would lead to catastrophic outcomes.

WIDESPREAD DISEASE IN GAZA

Dressed in blue scrubs and equipped with a stethoscope, Okasha uses a thermometer to examine a young patient. Drawing on his experience from a hospital before the war, he relies on donations for limited medical equipment. "Diseases among children are spreading alarmingly—intense intestinal infections, viral and respiratory infections due to the cold," he stated.

He observes that many children arrive without adequate clothing, and their parents lament their inability to purchase more. He is particularly concerned about the rise of hepatitis A, attributing it to poor sanitation. "This stems from a lack of cleanliness,” he explained, emphasizing the absence of clean drinking and washing water. Many residents resort to using seawater for cleaning and consuming brackish water from wells.

Often, the only treatment he can provide is pain relief, which is frequently unavailable in local pharmacies. "My son is very sick. He has a fever and diarrhea caused by the harsh living conditions during the war," shared Ahmed al-Amodi, clutching his crying child.

Most hospitals in Gaza have ceased operations, with some facilities damaged by airstrikes and those still functioning under immense strain as Israeli troops advance. Israel asserts that Hamas exploits medical facilities for military purposes, a claim that Hamas denies.

The World Health Organization has indicated that only 15 out of Gaza’s pre-war 36 hospitals are still operational to some extent, while a United Nations survey revealed that nearly 10% of children under five are acutely malnourished.