GAZA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Laughter briefly replaced the sound of medical equipment Saturday at Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital in Gaza City as volunteers organized games and activities for children with cancer, offering a short respite from illness and war.
The event was organized by psychological support and entertainment teams from the Egyptian Committee for Relief of the People of the Gaza Strip. Children participated in games, face painting and other activities aimed at providing emotional support to patients and their families.
"Children in Gaza are living through exceptional circumstances because of the war, making every smile and moment of happiness very important," said Suleiman Aboud, a volunteer clown.
Aboud said many children have experienced hardship and fear and need opportunities to play and express themselves, adding that support should include psychological and social care in addition to medical treatment.
Parents welcomed the initiative.
"These activities help children step away, however briefly, from the atmosphere of illness and treatment," said Ihsan Abdul Aal, whose child is receiving cancer treatment at the hospital.
Displaced mother Rafif Abu Ouda said she had not seen her 12-year-old daughter, Samah, so happy in months. Samah said singing and dancing with volunteers made her feel joyful despite her illness.
The event came as Gaza faces a growing mental health crisis after more than two years of conflict.
Abdullah Al-Jamal, director of Gaza's psychiatric hospital, described the situation as "catastrophic." He said the territory's only psychiatric hospital was destroyed during the conflict, and shortages of medication and specialists have further limited care. He added that many children with cancer have been unable to receive a diagnosis or treatment.
The destruction of hospitals, combined with severe shortages of essential medicines, has left young patients without chemotherapy, imaging, or basic supportive care. Treatable illnesses are increasingly turning into tragedies.
The United Nations has estimated that more than 11,000 cancer patients in Gaza require medical evacuation due to a lack of treatment capacity.
Experts say recreational activities cannot address the wider crisis but can help reduce psychological stress and offer children brief moments of relief. ■
