Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, brought attention to the devastating acronym ‘WCNSF’—Wounded Child, No Surviving Family—coined by healthcare workers in Gaza.
Describing the term as “heartbreaking,” Nusseibeh highlighted the dire situation faced by injured children who require special medical attention but lack the support of surviving family members.
Challenges Faced by Injured Children in Gaza:
Children in Gaza are being brought in with severe injuries, primarily burns, according to charity organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
These injuries, labeled as “extremely severe,” pose significant challenges for effective treatment, even in high-resource settings.
The absence of surviving family members compounds the difficulties faced by these children.
MSF Highlights Lack of Pain Relief and Family Security:
MSF emphasizes that children in Gaza with life-threatening injuries require two main things: pain relief and the security of their families.
However, many children in the region lack both. Avril Benoît, the executive director of MSF-USA, expressed the critical need for these elements in treating children who are fighting for their lives.
Queen Rania Al Abdullah’s Concerns:
Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan recently echoed concerns about WCNSF, stressing that such an acronym “should never exist.”
The acknowledgment by prominent figures underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for attention and intervention.
Save The Children Highlights the Impact on Traumatized Children:
Save The Children, a humanitarian organization, explains that the term WCNSF was coined due to the increasing number of children arriving for medical care without surviving family members.
The organization emphasizes that family support is a critical coping mechanism for children experiencing trauma, providing security and routine in situations of violence and displacement.
