BEIRUT — Nestled in his father’s embrace, little Hussein Mikdad wept uncontrollably, his small body trembling with fear. The 4-year-old attempted to push away a doctor who had come to help him, yelling, “Make him leave me alone!” His father, Hassan, held him tightly, tears streaming down his face from a mix of sorrow and the relief that his son was on the mend.
Hussein and his father are the sole survivors of their family, having lost 18 loved ones—including Hussein’s mother, his two sisters, and his brother—when an Israeli airstrike devastated their home in Beirut last month. Medical professionals at the American University of Beirut Medical Center have addressed Hussein’s physical injuries, including a fractured thigh and damaged tendons. While doctors are hopeful he will regain the ability to walk within two months, they fear the psychological scars may be more profound and complex.
Hussein has reverted to diapers and is wetting his bed, showing little interest in communicating. He has not inquired about his mother or siblings, his father lamented. The Israeli military claimed that the airstrike was aimed at Hezbollah targets but provided no further details.
The recent spike in violence in Lebanon has disproportionately affected children. Over 100 children have died, and several hundred others have sustained injuries in the past six weeks, as reported by the Lebanese Health Ministry. Approximately 10% of the 14,000 people injured in the past year from Israeli attacks have been minors.
Israel has asserted its commitment to dismantle Hezbollah’s capabilities in response to attacks that began after Hamas’s incursion on October 7, igniting ongoing conflict in Gaza. The Israeli military states that Hezbollah utilizes residential areas to conceal its operations, leading to increased strikes on civilian homes and tragic losses of entire families.
“The result is a generation of children burdened with both physical and emotional trauma,” stated Ghassan Abu Sittah, a prominent reconstructive surgeon from the UK who is currently treating Hussein. The situation has become dire, as hospitals like Lebanon Hospital Geitaoui have expanded their burn units nearly threefold to manage the inflow of casualties from the ongoing conflict, with a significant portion of patients being children.
Two-year-old Ivana Skakye is among those in the burn unit, having celebrated her birthday wrapped in gauze after suffering third-degree burns covering 40% of her body due to the Israeli strike. Her mother, Fatima Zayoun, recounted the chaos and destruction as she searched for her daughters after the attack engulfed their home in flames.
Ivana’s older sister, Rahaf, has also sustained injuries but is recovering more swiftly. While Ivana is expected to be discharged soon, her mother faces the daunting reality of returning to a shelter without a home, fearful of infections in the overcrowded conditions.
Zayoun, who was a teenager during the last war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, expressed a stark contrast to her previous experience of displacement. “This time, it’s different. They’re attacking us everywhere. What do they want from us?” she questioned sorrowfully, reflecting on the impact on innocent children.
Abu Sittah emphasized the devastating psychological effects on children, explaining that attacks disrupt their fundamental sense of safety. Reports from displaced families indicate increased anxiety and behavioral changes among children, ranging from aggression to learning difficulties, according to Maria Elizabeth Haddad, a psychosocial worker.
Meanwhile, in a temporary school shelter outside Beirut, displaced children attempted to find moments of normalcy through play, though underlying tensions sometimes erupted into conflict. As these experiences create deep-rooted anxiety and disruptions in emotional development, Haddad noted the long-term implications of their trauma, indicating that healing will be a challenging journey.
Hassan Mikdad recalls the night of the airstrike vividly; he stepped out for coffee only to witness the destruction of his home. Rescuers later found Hussein, who had been trapped with severe injuries. Tragically, his sisters and mother were among those who did not survive, leaving Hassan to carry on with only his son.
In the hospital, Hassan strives to bring some joy back to Hussein’s life, purchasing a new toy for him every day. He struggles to process his tremendous loss, expressing gratitude for the one surviving member of his family. “What I’m experiencing feels surreal, almost like a nightmare,” he said. “I thank God for having Hussein still with me.”