Gaza girl's hair turns white from trauma, hopes for treatment abroad

Lana Halil Şerif, a young girl from Gaza who experienced the horrors of Israel's attacks, saw her hair turn white and developed white spots all over her body due to psychological trauma. Since Israel's bombardment of Gaza began on October 7, 2023, the region has been left in ruins, with many people left homeless, jobless, and without basic necessities like food, water, and medicine. Despite their struggles, the people of Gaza, especially children like Lana, are facing severe psychological issues. Lana, who fled from Rafah to Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, is one of the children affected. She described how her face and body began changing after her neighbor's house was bombed, leading to white spots appearing on her face and spreading across her body. 'Before the war, I was very beautiful. Our neighbor's house was bombed, and two days later, white spots appeared on my face from the fear. We went to a dermatologist, who gave us ointment, but the spots spread all over my body, and then my hair started turning white,' Lana shared. She also expressed her sadness about how her friends call her 'old' because of her appearance and no longer want to play with her. Lana dreams of going to Egypt for treatment and returning to live in Rafah as she did before. Her father, Halil Şerif, explained the struggle to find treatment for his daughter, stating they had tried multiple doctors in Gaza, but with no success. The doctors suspected her condition could be vitiligo and suggested laser treatment. Halil expressed his frustration and sadness, stating, 'This child has no guilt. The illness is continuing to spread. Her psychology is very damaged. The other children don't want to play with her, and she isn't getting enough food. She doesn't want to talk to anyone.' He further described how, before the war, Lana attended school and helped her mother at home, but since moving to a tent, she has been carrying water and food from aid centers, which has affected her health. 'Children in Gaza are suffering a lot. They carry water, go for food. They are malnourished and cannot access medical treatment. I want the children of Gaza to live like children around the world,' he added.