Three young Palestinian girls, who traveled from Gaza to Boston’s Logan Airport, arrived on Sunday to the warm welcome of a supportive crowd.
The children, part of a group of eleven Palestinian minors, are in the United States seeking essential medical care through the nonprofit organization HEAL Palestine.
A 14-year-old girl, Rahaf Aldalou, underwent severe injuries in an Israeli airstrike, which took the lives of her mother and three siblings while they sheltered in a hospital.
Accompanied by her aunt, she hopes to receive critical care in Massachusetts.
Another girl, 12-year-old Rahaf Abuawwad, struggles with chronic health conditions that have deteriorated due to the Gaza healthcare system’s collapse.
She is set to continue her treatment in Ohio.
The third girl, Seba Abuabeda, also 12, is a double amputee who will travel to Seattle for further medical attention.
Sondos Jaber, a social worker with HEAL Palestine, expressed the daunting challenges faced in facilitating the children’s journey to the U.S.
“The cases we have here, we’ve probably started working on them since January if not before,” she stated.
Jaber emphasized the complexity of securing necessary approvals and coordinating with multiple embassies and consulates.
A small but dedicated group of supporters gathered to cheer and show solidarity with the children at the airport.
Many attendees wore keffiyehs and displayed Palestinian flags, voicing their frustrations over the challenges faced by those requiring medical assistance in Gaza.
Sean Flaherty, one of the supporters, highlighted the shortcomings of the healthcare situation in Gaza, noting that it was a significant failure the children had to leave their home for care in the U.S.
“I think it’s a huge failure that they have to come here at all, but I am very happy that they have an opportunity to receive care here,” Flaherty remarked.
Jaber shared that many of the children receiving support from HEAL Palestine are amputees or double amputees.
Additionally, volunteer Nora Khalil raised awareness of the severe malnutrition crisis in Gaza, exacerbating health issues among the population.
According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition has escalated alarmingly in Gaza, contributing to a rise in fatalities, especially among children under five years old.
The WHO reported that of the 74 deaths linked to malnutrition this year, 63 occurred in July alone.
As the Gaza Health Ministry continues to report increased casualties, the situation remains dire, with hundreds of individuals reportedly killed while attempting to access food and aid amid the ongoing conflict.
Khalil stated that the organization employs every available resource to facilitate the evacuations, underlining the uncertainty of such efforts.
“We could not say that they would be evacuated until they left Gaza because changes happen at every moment,” she explained, highlighting the risks faced by those trying to flee.
The dedication and resilience shown by HEAL Palestine and its supporters reflect a commitment to assist vulnerable children in desperate need of medical attention, even as they navigate the complexities of aid and humanitarian efforts.
image source from：wgbh
