Wrapped in gauze from head to toe, toddler Ivana Skayki lies almost motionless in a hospital bed far too large for her at Geitaoui Hospital in Beirut, Lebanon, on October 30, 2024.
Her father, Mohammad, shared with Reuters that Ivana was injured in Israeli strikes as their family prepared to escape their hometown of Al-Aliyah on September 23, the day Israel significantly intensified its strikes on Lebanon.
Ivana, who will turn two next month, suffered burns covering nearly 40% of her body, including half of her face, her chest, and both upper arms, according to Ziad Sleiman, a plastic surgeon at the hospital’s specialized burn unit.
This unit is the only facility in Lebanon equipped to handle severe burns. Its hallways resonate with the cries of young patients as distressed parents anxiously await updates from medical staff.
