Gaza Herald – Mohammed, a child from Gaza, has never known an easy path in life. He was born with congenital glaucoma and cystic fibrosis, genetic conditions that forced him to undergo around twenty surgeries before the genocide on Gaza began.
Today, he is left with only one eye, resisting the darkness.
As the bombardment intensified and the healthcare system collapsed, Mohammed’s condition deteriorated rapidly. He has now completely lost vision in his left eye due to damage to the optic nerve, leaving him with only his right eye, his last chance to see the world.
His mother, speaking with a heavy heart, said: “We are doing everything we can to save what remains of his sight. Doctors say his condition is extremely critical.”
She added, “Before the war, my son needed a corneal transplant. Now, there are no corneas, no doctors, and no hospitals functioning properly.”
With deep sorrow, she continued: “I only wish for my son to see like other children, even if just with one eye. I want him to live his childhood, to see the world around him.”
Doctors warn that Mohammed’s case reflects a much wider crisis. Dr. Abdul Salam Sabah, an ophthalmology consultant and director of Gaza’s Eye Hospital, said that patients and the injured face a real risk of blindness due to a severe shortage of essential medicines and medical equipment.
He noted that the hospital records daily cases of vision loss, as critical surgeries cannot be performed under the ongoing restrictions on the entry of vital medical supplies.
According to the Ministry of Health, more than 171,000 war-related injuries have been recorded in Gaza, including around 17,000 eye injuries (11%), with children making up 20% of the total number of wounded.
Mohammed Khairy, coordinator at the Gaza Center for Human Rights, stated that approximately 5,000 patients are at risk of losing their eyesight due to the destruction of eye care infrastructure and the blockade on diagnostic equipment and medical supplies. He added that around 2,400 patients are currently on waiting lists, urgently in need of surgeries that cannot be performed inside Gaza.
In Gaza, Mohammed’s story is not an isolated case. Thousands of children with chronic illnesses and severe injuries are left without treatment or proper care, as the war continues to devastate the healthcare system and deplete essential resources. The consequences are long-term, threatening not only their health but also their chances of living a normal life.
