Children in Gaza Need Urgent Medical Evacuation

Eight-year-old Retal was severely injured when her home in the Gaza Strip was hit by shelling on July 5, 2025, killing her two older siblings. She's undergone nine abdominal surgeries since then, but they haven't relieved her suffering. Gaza's strained health system can't provide the lifesaving medical care she urgently needs. For the past two months, Retal has been waiting for permission to be medically evacuated. "Retal is dying a slow death, and her condition is getting worse day by day," her mother says through her tears. "She is my only surviving daughter. I hope she can travel and continue her treatment. Retal is the only one I have left in this life." Retal is one of thousands of Palestinian children waiting for medical evaluation from Gaza. Until Gaza's health care system can handle all needs, UNICEF is calling for medical evacuations at speed and at scale, with the guarantee that all evacuated patients can return to Gaza. Subscribe to UNICEF USA's YouTube Channel for the latest updates. To learn more about UNICEF and UNICEF USA, visit: https://www.unicefusa.org Read our stories about UNICEF in action: https://www.unicefusa.org/stories Follow UNICEF USA here: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unicefusa Twitter: https://twitter.com/UNICEFUSA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNICEF-USA