Bold reality check: in Gaza, even after more than two years of war, half of the region’s hospitals are inactive and critical shortages of medicines, supplies, and health workers persist. Meanwhile, more than 16,000 patients remain on evacuation lists, waiting for overseas treatment as access to care deteriorates by the day.
After spending over six weeks at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis, Hani Mohammad Abu Zarqa received a life-changing call: his six‑month‑old daughter Habiba would be transferred abroad for urgent care in southern Turkey. The catch? His five‑year‑old son Abdullah, who has been critically ill, wasn’t on the list. Abdullah was diagnosed with rickets early on, a condition that weakens bones and, in his case, was compounded by severe vitamin D deficiency. Throughout the war his health declined, with photos showing a fragile boy whose bones often protruded.
Following a rapid round of paperwork, the family was placed on the evacuation roster and flown from Israel’s Ramon Airport. They first traveled to Belgium, then to Adana, Turkey, where both children were admitted to a hospital. Four days later, Abdullah suddenly developed severe abdominal pain, deteriorated rapidly, and died within minutes.
“We tried to move him earlier to treatment, but we couldn’t,” Abdullah’s father told CBC News. “It took too long to get the medicines.”
Since the conflict began, more than 10,000 patients have been evacuated from Gaza, with roughly 60 percent going to Egypt. The United Arab Emirates and Qatar have also taken in hundreds, while Turkey has received nearly 500. Yet, the WHO says more than 16,000 Gazans still await evacuation, at risk of worsening conditions as they wait for permission to leave Gaza, where hospitals have been heavily damaged or destroyed.
The situation for those needing care remains dire.
According to the WHO, fewer than half of Gaza’s hospitals are functioning, and shortages of medicines, supplies, and healthcare workers persist. Since a ceasefire began on Oct. 10, humanitarian shipments and support have improved somewhat, but the pace of medical evacuations has not. Border crossings out of Gaza remain largely closed, including Rafah into Egypt.
Doctors in Gaza, along with Doctors Without Borders, estimate hundreds have died while waiting for international transfers. Dr. Ahmed Al-Farra, a pediatric director at Nasser hospital, told CBC’s Mohamed El Saife that sometimes doctors have patients but lack the equipment to save them.
Patients awaiting transfer have a range of needs—from war-related injuries to cancer and chronic illnesses — highlighting the civilian toll of the conflict on healthcare access.
Abdullah’s decline unfolded on a backdrop of long-standing difficulties. His father explained that before the war, Abdullah could take medications and supplements to manage his condition, but the supply disruptions over the past two years severely hampered his care. After shrapnel injuries in March 2024 caused multiple fractures that left him unable to walk, the family fled to a tented camp on Khan Younis’ western outskirts near the coast.
In the weeks leading up to their departure, the family’s plight drew attention on social media and in some outlets. Some postings alleged that Abdullah was severely malnourished; in response, the Israel Defense Forces claimed the boy’s image had been used as part of a Hamas starvation propaganda campaign and noted that Abdullah had previously sought treatment in East Jerusalem for a supposed genetic condition.
Habiba, born in early spring, began suffering infections and was later diagnosed with an enlarged liver. Doctors in Gaza were unable to diagnose her properly due to resource constraints, but Turkish physicians suggested glycogen storage disease, a rare metabolic disorder affecting the body’s ability to process and store glycogen.
When CBC News spoke with the family, Habiba’s blood sugar was constantly monitored, with alarms triggered if it dropped too low. She received a specialized formula via a nasal tube whenever needed. “Our future is on hold for now; our focus is Habiba,” her father said. “The most important thing is to get her proper treatment. They’re helping here; all resources are available, but we can’t merely stay.” The family is uncertain how long they can remain in Turkey, viewing the arrangement as temporary while Habiba receives care.
The family of four—Habiba’s nine-year-old brother Hamad and their parents—are housed in a modest converted shipping container in Adana, originally built for earthquake survivors from 2023. CBC observed about 10 Gaza families living there, with Turkish authorities preparing to welcome a few more.
Mohammed Hammouda, another Gaza resident evacuated to Turkey, used to work as a physiotherapist before his Beit Lahiya clinic and home were destroyed by airstrikes in 2023. A June explosion left him injured again and reliant on a wheelchair after discharge from Khan Younis hospital. He now waits for orthopedic care in Turkey, with his damaged left-hand index finger remaining unusable.
“I’m worried, but not just for myself… I have three children,” the 40-year-old said. “They need me, and I’m not sure I can always be there for them.” His children frequently wake with nightmares and bed-wetting, seeking reassurance from their parents.
The family’s experience underscores a broader, troubling pattern: while some patients are evacuated and receive care abroad, many others still face uncertain futures as the Gaza healthcare system remains severely strained and access remains intermittent.
About the author: Briar Stewart, CBC’s London-based correspondent, has spent nearly two decades reporting across Canada and internationally. Reach her at briar.stewart@cbc.ca or on X @briarstewart. With contributions from CBC’s Angela Johnston, Arzu Efeoğlu, and Mohamed El Saife.
