Marah Abu Zuhri, a 20-year-old Palestinian woman, died in a hospital in Pisa, Italy, after being evacuated from Gaza due to severe malnutrition. Her arrival in Italy—the first of its kind—was a humanitarian gesture, with the flight touching down on Wednesday evening. Joined by her mother, Marah was one of 31 severely critical patients airlifted for emergency medical care.
Marah’s evacuation was made possible through cooperation between the Italian government and the World Health Organization. She never did evacuate. She was on the short list for medical evacuation. She was complicated by high mortality, serious congenital diseases, and serious medical complications. On the day she arrived, 32 children and six adults were flown over from Gaza. From there, they were off to countries like Italy, Belgium, and Turkey.
While in Gaza, Marah’s work piqued the interest of Olga Cherevko. She acts as a mouthpiece for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Ms. Cherevko had first gotten to know Marah in April 2024 at the IMC Field Hospital in southern Gaza. At that visit, Marah was long-term malnourished but had already begun to regain her health and strength after receiving therapeutic care.
“The first time I met her was in the IMC Field Hospital in southern Gaza in April 2024. Back then, she was severely malnourished and was getting treatment. And she gradually became better and was released eventually and went home.” – Olga Cherevko
Even with those early gains, Marah’s health took a turn for the worse soon after landing in Italy. She came into the facility, and medical staff was able to test and start treatment, but she went into an acute respiratory crisis that progressed to cardiac arrest. She unfortunately passed from her illness soon after.
Marah’s arrival with her mother was officially confirmed by the Italian foreign ministry. They were on one of three defense department flights arranged by the air force to facilitate the evacuation. This tragic incident brings attention to the ongoing health crisis in Gaza, where more than 14,800 patients are still waiting for medical evacuation.
Olga Cherevko expressed her concern about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. She emphasized that patients have been unable to receive adequate diagnoses or treatment due to malnutrition and a lack of medical supplies.
“It wouldn’t be this way if they had proper nutrition, because these conditions existed before the starvation crisis and they weren’t getting as sick as they are now.” – Olga Cherevko
The situation continues to draw international scrutiny. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that “there is no policy of starvation in Gaza,” critics argue differently. Former President Donald Trump commented on the dire conditions faced by children, remarking on the visible signs of hunger among them.
“I don’t know … those children look very hungry … that’s real starvation stuff.” – Donald Trump
As the humanitarian crisis unfolds, organizations such as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) have warned that “the worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip.” This extremely concerning crisis highlights the desperate need for international aid and intervention to protect those who require assistance.