A 20-year-old Palestinian woman, Marah Abu Zuhri, who was suffering from severe malnutrition, has died in Italy after being evacuated from Gaza.
Zuhri arrived in Pisa on an Italian government humanitarian flight on Wednesday night, along with other critical patients.
According to the University Hospital of Pisa, she had a “very complex clinical picture” and was “in a profound state of organic wasting”. After undergoing tests and starting treatment, she experienced a sudden respiratory crisis and cardiac arrest on Friday, which led to her death.
The hospital’s statement highlights the severity of Zuhri’s condition, which was exacerbated by the dire situation in Gaza.
The United Nations World Food Programme has warned that one-third of the Palestinian population in Gaza goes for days without eating, and half a million are on the brink of starvation.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has also cautioned that the “worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip”, emphasizing the need for an urgent ceasefire to alleviate widespread starvation.
Olga Cherevko, a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), stressed the importance of ensuring that evacuations continue to save lives.
She pointed out that for children and adults with pre-existing conditions, their situation becomes worse with malnutrition. Cherevko recounted the story of a seven-year-old girl named Janah, who was suffering from malnourishment and had been on a list for medical evacuation.
“I remembered her long eyelashes,” Cherevko said, describing the girl’s condition as a result of aggravated malnutrition and undiagnosed health issues.
The death of Marah Abu Zuhri highlights the urgent need for humanitarian aid and medical attention in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed last month that “there is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza”.
However, even Donald Trump, Netanyahu’s key international ally, expressed skepticism, saying, “I don’t know… those children look very hungry… that’s real starvation stuff”.
The international community continues to call for increased aid and support for those affected by the conflict in Gaza.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with thousands of sick children in need of urgent medical evacuation.
OCHA reports that more than 14,800 patients are still waiting for medical attention outside Gaza. The World Health Organization has supported the transfer of 32 children and six adults to Italy, Belgium, and Turkey, but more needs to be done to address the scale of the crisis.
The conflict has resulted in widespread malnutrition, with nearly 12,000 children under the age of 5 suffering from acute malnutrition in July, according to the UN. The international community must work together to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the conflict and ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need.