A 17-year-old Palestinian boy has shared his heartbreaking story of living in constant pain for nearly a year, after sustaining severe burns in an Israeli missile strike that destroyed his home in Gaza, killed his mother, and inflicted burn injuries on his families.
Just seconds before an Israeli missile struck the Mansour family home in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, last August, the family was going about their day as best they could -- moments later, everything changed. Ahmad Mansour lost his wife in the attack and was injured along with his three children and his mother. All of them suffered burns, but his son Taysir’s injuries were the most severe.
"Our home was bombed and caught fire with us inside. All of us, my children and I, were burned. My wife was killed. Since then, the five of us have been receiving treatment. Taysir’s injuries were the most severe," Ahmad said.
Seventeen-year-old Taysir’s injuries go far beyond physical pain. Doctors say his daily suffering and worsening condition may soon require the amputation of both his hands.
"I was burned all over my body -- my stomach, back, legs, arms and even my face. My hands hurt all day long. My life is full of pain, and I rely on painkillers. I can't sleep, I stay up crying from the pain. Life is very hard, and there's no treatment," said Taysir.
In addition to lacking adequate medical care, Taysir and his family are living in poverty, with minimal access to food and medicine, making Taysir’s full recovery nearly impossible.
"There is no food. We can’t even afford vegetables because they’re too expensive. Meat is completely unavailable. Burn wounds need a specific nutritional plan to heal, but we have nothing. And there is no medicine either," said Ahmad.
Taysir is now entirely dependent on his father for even the simplest tasks. Unable to move independently and deprived of basic care, he remains confined to his bed.
"I'm unable to do anything now, not even go to the bathroom. Sometimes I want to take a few steps, but I get tired quickly. I can't comb my hair or even bend my arm. I can't do many daily activities. When I see others walking and moving normally, I feel sorry for myself. My arm is getting worse and worse," said Taysir.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) says more than 50,000 Palestinian children have been killed or injured in Gaza since October 2023.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder described the devastating conditions facing children in Gaza, highlighting the lack of medical care and the urgent need for medical evacuation.
"There are so many cases in Gaza of children who have survived these horrendous attacks on their homes, missiles or tank fire, and then they get fourth-degree burns, shrapnel. These children survive and somehow end up in hospitals with incredible doctors and nurses, but without all the medicines and painkillers they need, because that’s denied entry. And these children need medical evacuation. They’ve somehow survived; they’ve got to get out," Elder said.
Palestinian teen burned in Gaza airstrike battles ongoing pain nearly year later
