Toddler clings to life as Israeli strikes burn through Lebanon's South
3 Min Read
Ivana, who sustained burns over 40% of her body—including her face, chest, and upper limbs—has undergone weeks of treatment at Geitaoui Hospital, Lebanon’s only specialized burn unit.
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Two-year-old Ivana Skayki who suffered burns from an Israeli strike in southern Lebanon, rests in bed at Geitaoui Hospital in Beirut on October 30, 2024. (AFP)
Two-year-old Ivana Skayki, wrapped in gauze from head to toe, lies nearly motionless in a Beirut hospital, her body severely burned from an Israeli airstrike on her hometown of Al-Aliyah in southern Lebanon.
Ivana, who sustained burns over 40% of her body—including her face, chest, and upper limbs—has undergone weeks of treatment at Geitaoui Hospital, Lebanon’s only specialized burn unit.
Her father, Mohammad, recounted to Reuters the terrifying attack, describing the moment their home shook and windows shattered as they prepared to flee.
"There was a hit, the house shook - everything was breaking, the windows, the roof, everything, the blast was in my house," he recalled. "I thought to myself, 'this could be it, this could be the end.'"
2 year old Ivana Skayki was playing at home in Southern Lebanon when an Israeli airstrike happened on her doorstep. She now has third degree burns on almost half her body. The strike came without warning. Israel says it is targeting Hezbollah. With @goktay @wburema @angiemrad pic.twitter.com/6LS5liLy6L
— Orla Guerin (@OrlaGuerin) October 27, 2024
The aggression that day, September 23, saw an unprecedented intensification of Israeli strikes on Lebanon.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported over 550 civilian deaths on that day alone, underscoring the high toll on civilians who fell prey to Israeli forces.
Read more: Attacks on medics in Lebanon a war crime: HRW
The hospital where Ivana is being treated has been overwhelmed with cases, admitting eight children with extensive third-degree burns.
Although the unit typically accommodates nine patients, it has expanded to 25 beds to meet rising needs, according to medical director Naji Abi Rached.
The influx of patients—many of whom require prolonged and complex care—has placed immense pressure on Geitaoui Hospital's resources.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Ziad Sleiman noted that Ivana had received skin grafts but still faced a challenging recovery, with visible signs of peeling and scarring.
Hospital staff and families continue to endure the emotional and physical strain as the toll of "Israel's" aggression on Lebanese civilians grows.
Mass displacement
The Israeli occupation forces (IOF) falsely claim that Hezbollah had established infrastructure within civilian areas and that they had issued evacuation warnings before strikes.
However, international law experts are raising concerns, noting that civilian structures can only be lawfully targeted if there is concrete evidence of military use.
The war has led to the mass displacement of 1.4 million people across the country, with over 2,800 martyrs reported so far.
Earlier today, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported a number of Israeli airstrikes on the Khiam village, while the occupation's artillery shelled Mount Sadana heights and Shebaa.
The occupation also targeted the town of Ansar in the Nabatieh district, as well as the Khardali River course and Barghoz.
In Sarafand, search operations are still ongoing for three missing persons who were inside the building targeted and leveled by the Israeli occupation on Tuesday night.
Read more: Satellite images show vast destruction in Lebanon border villages: NYT
