Aid Mission: Saving Adam from the Ruins of Khan Yunis in Gaza
By Andrea Affaticati, Milan
Italian Medical Facility to Perform Cure on Adam from Chan Junis
In the wee hours of May 23, the Al-Najjar family in Khan Yunis, Gaza, was reduced to ruins by an Israeli bombing strike. Adam, a resilient eleven-year-old boy, was severely injured, losing nine siblings aged between three and twelve. The tragic tale of the Al-Najjar's offered a glimmer of hope with Italy's quick response to provide necessary medical care.
At 11 pm, a military plane touched down at Milan's Linate Airport. Italy's Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, was present, offering a ball as a gift. The plane, an Italian Air Force C-130, had taken off from Eliat-Ramon Airport, Israel, carrying passengers with life-altering stories. Some lay on stretchers, while others walked on their own, their wounds hidden beneath thick bandages on their heads, arms, or legs. Among them were five children, two girls, and three boys, all survivors of gruesome battles.
Tragedy and Recovery
The most notable amongst the young patients was the eleven-year-old Adam. The sturdy attention he received was a testament to his harrowing fate. In the IDF's bombing attack on May 23, Adam's nine siblings, aged between three and twelve, lost their lives. His father was severely injured, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries a week later. Adam's mother Alaa Al-Najjar was at work at Nasser Hospital at the time of the attack. Later, she described only recognizing one of her dead children; the burns on the others were too devastating.
Italy Offers a New Start
When the world learned of the Al-Najjar family's story, Italy extended its hand to provide the necessary medical care. To date, 133 young patients from the Gaza Strip have been flown in and distributed among hospitals. Add adults to the equation, and over 150 patients and 450 relatives have been assisted. Italy ranks fourth worldwide in organizing evacuations from the Gaza Strip.
Three flights carrying Palestinian patients landed in Italy on June 11 alone. On board were 17 severely injured individuals and 53 relatives. The diplomatic efforts behind these evacuation missions were significant, involving the Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv, the General Consulate in Jerusalem, and officials from the Prime Minister's Office, as well as the EU Civil Protection and the World Health Organization, among others[2].
Upon arrival, patients were distributed to various hospitals in Italy, based on the nature and severity of their injuries. Additionally, each hospital provided accommodation for escorts and assigned an interpreter[2].
New Horizons in Niguarda
Adam's trauma and injuries were beyond imagination—brutal burns covering 60% of his body[3]. As a result of the attack on his house in Khan Yunis, he was transferred to the Milan hospital, Niguarda, which has a specialized burn center. Over the years, the hospital has cared for children from war zones and provided psychological support for those who have undergone unspeakable horrors[3]. Adam's mother had requested such support for her son[3].
A Mother's Hope
In an interview with La Repubblica, Adam's mother expressed her concern for the condition of her left arm, "its bones are broken, and the nerves are damaged." Doctors believe further operations are necessary[3]. Although Adam's burns have healed, his recovery has been slow. In an interview with Anadolu Agency, he shared that he still experiences severe pain in his left hand, caused by nerve damage and the lack of feeling in his fingers[3].
Adam's mother expressed her gratitude to the Italians for giving her son the opportunity to escape the Southern Gaza violence and receive the medical attention he required[3]. Despite leaving her home in Gaza, where countless people are suffering, she put her son's recovery first. "I hope I will be forgiven," she said before departing for Milan[3].
[1] ntv.de[2] ansamedia.info[3] Anadolu Agency[4] La Repubblica[5] ntv.de
ItalyGazaIsrael WarChildren
- The employment policies in Italy, particularly in the health-and-wellness sector, are important considerations as Adam, a young survivor from Gaza, receives mental-health support and medical treatment in Italy.
- The science of burn recovery and treatment is critical in Adam's case, whose devastating injuries from the Gaza conflict have left him in need of specialized care at Niguarda hospital's burn center in Milan.
- The community policy involving the representation of Italy's Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, and other diplomats should be commended, as it played a significant role in facilitating the evacuation of 17 severely injured individuals and their relatives from the conflict in Gaza, including young Adam.
