**Gaza Children Evacuated to Jordan for Treatment**
In a heart-wrenching scene, four sick children from Gaza were evacuated to Jordan on Wednesday, along with their parents and guardians. The evacuation was part of an effort by the Jordanian government to bring 2,000 sick kids to the kingdom for treatment.
**A Peaceful Scene in Contrast to Gaza’s Reality**
As I flew over Amman, Safa’a Salha, a mother from Gaza, showed me her phone with a message she had written. “Oh my god, Jordan is so beautiful.” The contrast between this peaceful scene and the reality of Gaza couldn’t be starker. In Gaza, the Israeli blockade has created a desperate situation where the entire population of 2.1 million people is at critical risk of famine.
**A Child’s Story**
One of the children who was evacuated to Jordan, Youssef, a 16-year-old boy, showed me his scar from a previous operation on his head. He smiled and wanted to talk about ordinary things like football and how excited he was about the helicopter ride. His sister, Sama, a nine-year-old girl with a brain tumor, will undergo surgery in Amman.
**Obstacles to Evacuation**
Despite Jordan’s efforts to evacuate sick children from Gaza, Israel has imposed restrictions and delayed the process. Only 33 children have been evacuated from Syria to Jordan, compared to thousands who have been sent to other countries like Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and the US. The Israeli government organization Cogat claimed that there had been a significant rise in the number of Gazans evacuated for medical care abroad.
**A Desperate Situation**
The situation in Gaza is dire. The continued bombing and blockade by Israel have created a desperate situation where people are struggling to survive. Tom Fletcher, head of humanitarian affairs at the UN, has called on the UN Security Council to take action to “prevent genocide”. The entire population of Gaza faces the risk of famine.
**Hope and Determination**
Despite the challenges, there is hope and determination among the people of Gaza. Habiba, a young girl who had to undergo a triple amputation, was using her toes to play games on her mum’s mobile phone. She blew kisses using the stump of her left arm. Her mother, Rana, said that Habiba is a strong woman.
**A Future in Ruins**
Both Habiba and her mother are well taken care of in Amman but their world, family, and neighbors are in ruins. They are reluctant to consider returning soon due to concerns about Habiba’s safety.
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