Sanaa: A baby who waited for food

Sanaa Mansour Al-Lahham was born during the war. She was a little girl who knew nothing about the cruelty of the world she entered. From her very first breath, the humanitarian situation in Gaza was collapsing day by day. Access to food, milk, or medicine became nearly impossible. From her first day, she faced conditions that no child should ever know.

How HI met with Sanaa and her mother

While conducting field visits as part of our work at HI, a young mother walked into a United Nations shelter at Al-Haker School in Deir El-Balah with one arm broken and holding her baby in the other. She looked exhausted - physically and emotionally - after running from one hospital to another across the Gaza Strip, searching for answers, hope, and someone to tell her what was wrong with her daughter.

Her child, once joyful and playful, had suddenly changed after a high fever. She stopped crying, no longer moved like before, didn’t roll or interact. She simply stayed still, moving her head and limbs slightly, as if sinking into silence.

Stimulation therapy cannot replace food

Sanaa had developmental delays, and last March HI began physical therapy sessions, together with occupational therapy and psychosocial support. We involved her mother in the plan, explaining every step, and began our work together, not just to help the child recover movements, but to restore a mother's hope.  After three sessions, Sanaa could roll over and sit with minimal support. Her mother cried tears of joy. It was the first time she had seen real hope in months.

188 people starved to death. Half are children

But that hope didn't last long. On July 17, 2025, Sanaa died due of starvation. Despite receiving medical care and being transferred to the Shuhada Al-Aqsa Hospital, her condition deteriorated, and she sadly succumbed to the effects of prolonged nutritional deficiency and lack of baby formula.

188 people have died so far due to starvation, including 94 children, during the past days. Sanaa is more than just a case. She wasn't a statistic. She was a child - a life born into war, who faced the world with silent eyes and left too soon.

Will international mobilization stop this tragedy?

In her story, there is not only grief but also a question to the world: How many more children will we allow to disappear before starvation in Gaza is recognized as the emergency it truly is? This heartbreaking loss highlights the urgent need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and the unimpeded access of humanitarian aid, as well as continued support and interventions for those most at risk, such as children and people with disabilities. Our thoughts are with Sanaa’s family during this incredibly difficult time. 

Read more testimonies from our team members on the ground in Gaza