Zeina is a beautiful two-year old girl from Gaza, full of energy and enthusiasm for life. With the outbreak of war in late 2023, Zeina and her family were displaced from their home to the “humanitarian zone” in al-Mawasi.
There, Zeina suffered severe burns to her face, hand, neck and shoulders when the shock of a huge explosion nearby terrified her: in the confined space of the tent where the family, ate, slept and cooked together, Zeina ran towards the arms of her mother, knocking a pot of boiling soup over her body. Zeina was rushed to hospital, but her injuries could not be treated properly due to the collapsing healthcare system in Gaza and huge numbers of casualties.
At this stage Zeina’s case was referred to Kinder Relief. Our team on the ground supported the basic medical care required to keep Zeina alive, and our medical evacuation team secured a world-class treatment option for Zeina at one of Italy’s leading burns centres in Padua. Following the closure of the Rafah Crossing in May 2024, our team and partners then secured a special clearance for Zeina, her mother and sisters to leave Gaza for Egypt via the Kerem Shalom crossing in late June 2024.
Kinder Relief arranged Zeina’s immediate transfer by private ambulance to one of the Middle East’s leading burns centres in Cairo, where she underwent several complex surgeries and a skin graft organized and funded by our team. We also provided an apartment and essential livelihood support for Zeina’s family in advance of their travel to Italy.
With Zeina’s condition stabilised and all permissions for the onwards journey to Italy obtained, our team evacuated Zeina, along with her mother and sisters, to Padua for further specialized treatment. Zeina is responding very well to her treatment in Italy, and her mother and older sister are learning Italian and adapting well to their new lives with the support of the wonderful and caring local community.
