Gazan girl's life saved in UAE by doctors who had 'never seen such severe malnutrition'

Rahaf Ayyad, 12, is on the road to recovery after starvation in the enclave

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Gazan 12-year-old Rahaf Ayyad is receiving life-saving treatment for malnourishment and severe health problems at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.

She arrived in the UAE on May 14 on an evacuation flight that carried 101 patients, accompanied by 87 family members.

Heart failure and death were imminent, doctors told The National, when Rahaf was admitted to the medical city after months of suffering. She had lost most of her hair, was unable to walk let alone lift her arm, and had regular seizures. Her face was hollowed out by malnutrition and her teeth were yellow.

“At that point, if Rahaf had not got treatment immediately, she would have died. I have never seen such severe malnutrition like in Rahaf’s case,” Dr Tawfik Hen, general paediatric consultant, said.

A multidisciplinary team of doctors was needed to stabilise Rahaf’s condition.

Today, her blonde hair is growing back and, above all, she can walk again. “I missed my hair,” she told The National. “I missed playing hide and seek with my brothers and sisters, and I miss school.”

Rahaf has six siblings – the eldest, Mohamed, is 17 and her favourite. Her mother said her family of seven children and her father are waiting for her to join them at the Emirates Humanitarian City.

A video of Rahaf made by a doctor in Gaza changed their lives. Without it, Rahaf would not be alive today. It was this video that sparked action from the authorities in Abu Dhabi to make sure Rahaf was on the evacuation flight.

Rahaf Ayyad, 12, is receiving treatment at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Khalifa Medical City after suffering with malnourishment and severe health problems in Gaza for months. She is accompanied by her mother, Shroog Ayyad, 35. All photos: Ahmed Ramzan for The National

Shroog appealed to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other Arab nations for urgent help. The Emirates answered. Photo: Ahmed Ramzan for The National

A lack of food and protein had worsened Rahaf's kidney problems and vitamin deficiency

Treatment was not available in Gaza and Rahaf's condition got worse as the Israeli blockade stopping the entry of food, water, medicine and aid into the enclave continued.

In a previous interview with The National, Rahaf had described how she felt weaker every day and even basic daily tasks felt impossible as she struggled to walk

Who is Rahaf Ayyad?

A lack of food and protein was the primary cause of Rahaf's health issues, as she suffered with kidney problems and a vitamin deficiency.

In a previous interview with The National, she described how she felt weaker every day and even basic daily tasks felt impossible as she struggled to walk.

Rahaf often cried as she compared herself with old photos showing her looking healthy. The war left her bones protruding, cheeks swollen, skin pale with dark spots on her face and scalp, and losing her hair.

Her mother, Shroog Ayyad, said treatment was not available in Gaza and Rahaf's condition only got worse as the Israeli blockade, which stopped the entry of food, water, medicine and aid into the enclave, continued.

In early May, Shroog appealed to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other Arab nations for urgent help. The Emirates answered.

“There are not enough words of gratitude that I can say to the UAE for bringing us all over and caring for Rahaf,” Shroog said.

Rahaf is expected to be discharged from hospital within two weeks.

Shroog Ayyad, 35, is grateful to the UAE for offering her daughter Rahaf a lifeline. Ahmed Ramzan for The National

What next for the supply of aid into Gaza?

Rahaf is on the road to recovery as Hamas is studying a ceasefire plan presented by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, which Washington says Israel has already agreed to.

If Hamas accepts the agreement, deliveries of aid into Gaza will intensify with the agreed distribution mechanism set to remain in place during a 60-day truce.

The resumption of humanitarian aid would involve 1,000 lorries a day to quickly address the widespread hunger, acute shortages of medicine and other essentials among Gaza's 2.3 million residents.