In a Beirut medical facility‚ little Ivana Skayki lies covered in white gauze – her small frame barely visible in an oversized hospital bed. The child (who will be 2 years old next month) got serious burns to 40% of her body during recent strikes
The specialist burn department at Geitaoui Hospital – the only one in Lebanon; faces a tough situation with limited space. The halls are filled with kids crying while their parents wait anxiously for updates from doctors
Mohammad Skayki‚ Ivanas father describes that terrible day: “Our house in Al-Aliyah got hit everything was breaking – the windows the roof‚ all of it.“ The family ran to Tyre city first then moved between hospitals before finding proper care in Beirut
There was a hit‚ the house shook. I thought to myself‚ this could be it this could be the end
Dr Ziad Sleiman‚ a plastic surgeon says the girl needs skin-grafts but might leave soon. Her face still shows deep-red marks where skin peels off. The unit now has 25 beds (up from just 9) thanks to health ministry help explains medical director Naji Abi Rached
The hospital now takes only the worst cases – eight kids with third-degree burns covering half their bodies. Most patients stay about 6 weeks‚ but Dr Abi Rached notes that some cases dont end well because of how bad the burns are