Why Gaza Deserves More: Advocating for a Gaza Reconstruction Initiative

Imagine having to make the unimaginable choice between starving to death or drowning. This is the heartbreaking reality that many Gazans face every day as they fight to stay alive.

Dr. Zaher Sahloul

Dr. Zaher Sahloul

MedGlobal

It's hard to imagine living through the nightmare that Gazans have been enduring for months. They have limited access to basic medical care, if any at all. Infectious diseases are spreading, and they are trying to survive in the midst of bombed-out buildings or makeshift shelters made of tents and tarpaulins.

The people of Gaza are facing starvation, forcing them to desperately search for the limited food aid available or to risk their lives collecting meals ready to eat (MREs) dropped by the United States and other nations.

Although the food drops were meant to help alleviate the suffering of Gazans, they are still not enough to meet the needs of the people. Tragically, several individuals lost their lives when a pallet of food aid fell from the sky and landed on them.

Last week, there was shocking news about the food drops. It was reported that at least twelve Palestinians died while trying to reach airdropped parcels that landed in the sea off the northern Gaza coast.

Displaced Palestinians carry their belongings through a street in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on March 6, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas movement.

Displaced Palestinians are seen carrying their belongings through a street in Khan Yunis, located in the southern Gaza Strip. This scene took place on March 6, 2024, amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas movement. The image was captured by AFP/Getty Images.

I have traveled to various war zones as part of my relief work with the humanitarian organization I helped establish. Our focus is on providing emergency response and health programs to vulnerable communities worldwide. However, none of the misery I have seen compares to what I witnessed in Gaza.

During my two-week mission in Gaza this past January, the living conditions were already dire, and they have only worsened in the following weeks. The suffering I have seen has left me appalled. Alongside other medical professionals and aid workers on the ground, I am filled with a sense of urgency to urge the Biden administration to take decisive action to end the crisis.

I spent a significant amount of time this month in Washington and New York, where I met with lawmakers in Congress, members of the US administration, and UN officials. My goal was to urge them to work towards a humanitarian ceasefire. This ceasefire is crucial for the release of Israeli hostages and to ensure that Gazans receive the necessary food and medical supplies. It is extremely urgent for the Biden administration to prioritize negotiations for a ceasefire.

However, after witnessing the deteriorating situation in Gaza, I have come to realize that a ceasefire alone will not address the deep-seated challenges caused by months of trauma, bombings, and deprivation. It is essential for both the Biden administration and Congress to approve a substantial aid package for the Palestinians.

Members of the Al-Rabaya family are seen breaking their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan outside their destroyed home in Rafah, Gaza Strip. The photo was taken on Monday, March 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Fatima Shbair/AP

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The situation in Gaza calls for a strong and thorough approach similar to the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe after World War II. However, this time around, it is crucial to involve America’s international allies in the effort to prevent a humanitarian crisis and restore Gaza. The reconstruction of the territory will need coordinated efforts from the US, UN, international NGOs, and supporting nations, focusing on rehabilitating and reconstructing healthcare facilities.

The Biden administration is already aware that the challenges in Gaza will require a collaborative effort involving nations worldwide. USAID Administrator Samantha Power emphasized the need for sustained international support to ensure assistance reaches the most vulnerable in Gaza.

The rebuilding effort should prioritize hospitals and medical facilities, along with housing. Currently, out of Gaza's 36 hospitals, 24 have been forced to shut down due to bombings, evacuations, and supply shortages. The remaining dozen are operating at limited capacity.

Palestinian children in Rafah wait to receive food distributed by a charity kitchen amid severe food shortages of food supplies.

Palestinian children in Rafah wait to receive food distributed by a charity kitchen amid severe food shortages of food supplies.

About half of Gaza’s 2.2 million people are under the age of 18. These children have been forcibly displaced and torn away from their homes, schools, and communities. Their experiences are marked by profound loss, as they have witnessed the deaths of their parents, siblings, and friends. Undoubtedly, intensive psychological care will need to be part of any program to address the suffering they have endured.

During my time in Gaza, I watched as trauma patients were prioritized at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Following a sudden mass-casualty incident, doctors quickly responded in the crowded emergency department. Over 30 patients arrived in just 10 minutes, with some tragically already deceased.

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I witnessed the tragic death of Mohammed Abu Shahla, a child who could have survived if he had received proper medical care. Mohammed, born in 2011, had experienced multiple wars in his short life. Displaced with his family, he sought shelter in a school with many other families deemed safe. While playing near Nasser Hospital, where I worked, he was struck by an Israeli missile, causing irreversible brain damage.

The next day at our clinic, I met Lama, a five-year-old from Khan Younis who had been displaced to Rafah with her family. Living in a storage facility with 16 others, Lama is fortunate to have any shelter, as many families are homeless or living in makeshift tents. She came to the clinic with bloody diarrhea, a common issue among children in Gaza due to the lack of clean water and poor sanitation. This poses a serious risk of a cholera outbreak, with thousands of young children at risk of losing their lives. The escalating levels of starvation and malnutrition are only making the situation worse.

This picture taken from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip shows parachutes of humanitarian aid dropping over the besieged Palestinian territory in late March.

This picture taken from Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip shows parachutes of humanitarian aid dropping over the besieged Palestinian territory in late March.

It is important for all of us to ensure that the children in Gaza, just like children everywhere, deserve a bright future. Whenever I visit a conflict area, I always ask the children: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" This question reflects my wish and quiet hope that they will have the opportunity to achieve their dreams and maybe even have their own children someday.

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During a visit to Rafah, I came across a school that had been transformed into a shelter for displaced individuals. The facility was struggling to cope with a large number of children who were experiencing skin problems due to inadequate hygiene practices. Additionally, there were frequent cases of diarrhea and hepatitis outbreaks. In a packed classroom, I had the opportunity to meet Abdallah, a 12-year-old boy.

When I inquired about his dreams for the future, the young boy quietly muttered, "What future?" The pain he carried was visible in his expression and reflected in his hesitant words. How long will it take to mend the unseen scars of those fortunate enough to survive?

Yet, amidst the darkness, there is a glimmer of hope. The majority of the children I spoke with shared their aspirations of becoming doctors one day. This ambition may not be surprising, considering the severity of the physical injuries they have witnessed and their awareness of the limited medical support available.

Despite the chaos and suffering in Gaza, many children there continue to dream of a better future. One reason for their optimism is the territory's high education rates, boasting a literacy rate of 97.7% before the war, according to UN statistics. These children had the potential to pursue careers in fields like medicine, serving their community.

Even in the midst of devastation, Gaza's children still hold on to their dreams. However, the international community must step in to help rebuild homes, businesses, hospitals, and other essential facilities. Only then can Gazans begin to rebuild their lives and make those dreams a reality.

Editor's P/S:

The article exposes the harrowing reality faced by Gazans, who are forced to make life-or-death choices amidst severe food shortages and limited medical care. Starvation and drowning have become the stark choices they confront daily, as they desperately search for aid amidst bombed-out buildings and makeshift shelters. The situation is particularly dire for children, who have witnessed unimaginable horrors and are at risk of malnutrition, disease, and trauma.

The article urges the Biden administration and the international community to take decisive action to end the crisis in Gaza. It calls for a ceasefire, increased humanitarian aid, and a long-term plan to rebuild the territory and address the deep-seated challenges caused by months of conflict. The article highlights the need to prioritize healthcare facilities, housing, and psychological care, especially for children who have experienced profound loss and trauma. By investing in the future of Gaza's children and providing them with opportunities to rebuild their lives, the international community can help restore hope and create a brighter future for the people of Gaza.