US Visa Pause Leaves Critically Injured Gaza Children Stranded in Egypt
Cairo, Egypt – A sudden pause in US visa approvals is trapping critically injured children from Gaza in Egyptian hospitals, denying them access to specialized medical care and leaving families fearing for their lives. The move, confirmed by the US State Department, halts a program that offered a lifeline for Palestinian children suffering severe war wounds, prompting condemnation from aid organizations and desperate pleas from parents.
The visa suspension impacts children like 10-year-old Ahmed Duweik, who sustained life-threatening injuries in Gaza and is now indefinitely stuck in an Egyptian hospital lacking the specialist expertise he urgently needs.His mother, Iman Al-Khatib, voiced the agonizing reality facing families: “We feel so powerless. All we can do is pray that his visa approval comes before death does.” The situation underscores a growing debate over international responsibility for providing medical care to victims of the ongoing conflict,with the US urging other nations – including France,Australia,the UK,and Canada - to increase their support.
The program facilitated medical evacuations for Palestinian children with severe injuries sustained during the conflict in Gaza. Aid workers report a handful of children are currently in this precarious situation, their conditions deteriorating as they await visas. The US State Department stated the pause is intended to allow for a “full and thorough review” of the program,but the delay is proving devastating for those already suffering.
The Guardian previously reported on the journey of another young patient, Mazyouna, who successfully reached a Texas hospital from a bombsite in Gaza, highlighting the critical role these evacuations play.However, that pathway is now blocked for new cases.
Families are currently confined to overcrowded and sweltering rooms in Egyptian hospitals, lacking adequate medical support and facing an uncertain future. The indefinite delay raises serious ethical concerns about access to healthcare for war-wounded children and the responsibility of international actors in providing humanitarian aid.
