When two-year-old Shamm Qudeih arrived in Naples, Italy, in early September 2025, she weighed just 4 kilograms—barely 9 pounds. Her tiny frame, captured in a haunting photograph by journalist Mariam Dagga before evacuation, had become a symbol of the humanitarian crisis gripping Gaza. Severely malnourished and suffering from a rare metabolic disorder, Shamm’s journey from the brink of starvation to a slow, hopeful recovery is both a testament to medical intervention and a stark reminder of the ongoing devastation wrought by conflict and blockade in her homeland.
Shamm’s story, reported by sources including the Associated Press and Devdiscourse, begins amid the chaos of Gaza, where her family struggled to find food and medicine. The Israeli blockade, compounded by continuous military operations, has left over half a million people in Gaza facing catastrophic levels of hunger, according to global hunger authorities. For Shamm, the crisis was especially acute: her genetic condition, glycogen storage disease, made it nearly impossible to absorb nutrients from the limited food available, pushing her health into a critical state.
The photograph of Shamm, taken by Mariam Dagga just days before the journalist’s tragic death in an Israeli airstrike, quickly circulated worldwide. In it, Shamm’s frailty and vulnerability are impossible to ignore. The image not only painted a personal portrait of suffering but also came to encapsulate the broader plight of Gaza’s children—many of whom, like Shamm, are caught in a cycle of deprivation and displacement. As reported by Devdiscourse, this photograph galvanized international attention, highlighting the urgency of humanitarian intervention.
Evacuation was no simple feat. Shamm’s mother, Islam, recounted the family’s harrowing ordeal as they navigated war-torn streets, seeking help while being repeatedly displaced by violence. "We could not find the food or the medicine she needed," Islam explained, describing the months of uncertainty and desperation. Doctors in Gaza, overwhelmed and under-resourced, struggled to diagnose Shamm’s rare condition, let alone treat it. The blockade had rendered much of the region’s medical infrastructure inoperative, leaving families like Shamm’s with few options.
By the time Shamm reached Santobono Pausilipon Children’s Hospital in Naples, she was in critical condition. Dr. Daniele de Brasi, a pediatrician specializing in metabolic disorders, led the medical team tasked with her care. "Her situation was urgent," Dr. de Brasi told reporters. "We had to begin specialized treatment immediately." The regimen included a high-carbohydrate, nutrient-rich porridge and the use of a feeding tube to ensure Shamm received the calories and nutrients she so desperately needed—especially overnight, when her body was most vulnerable to hypoglycemia.
The results, while gradual, have been encouraging. Shamm has now gained 1.5 kilograms, bringing her weight to just over 12 pounds. She has celebrated her second birthday in Italy, a milestone her family once feared she might never reach. In her hospital crib, Shamm is more alert, her cheeks a bit fuller, and her demeanor noticeably brighter. Her mother, while still apprehensive about the future, has allowed herself a measure of relief. "We are grateful for the care she is receiving," Islam said, though she admitted that thoughts of returning home remain clouded by uncertainty.
Shamm is not the only member of her family to benefit from the evacuation. Her ten-year-old sister, Judi, was also brought to Italy suffering from undernourishment. Like Shamm, Judi has gained weight and is now receiving the comprehensive care that was unavailable in Gaza. The sisters’ recovery is a rare bright spot amid otherwise grim circumstances. Their story, as reported by the Associated Press, has inspired hope but also underscored the scale of need in their home country.
The broader context is no less dire. According to the World Health Organization, thousands of children in Gaza are currently suffering from acute malnutrition. The blockade has severely restricted the flow of food, medicine, and humanitarian aid, creating what experts now describe as famine conditions in parts of Gaza City. Despite official Israeli statements denying the existence of starvation, firsthand accounts and international reports tell a different story—one of widespread deprivation and escalating health crises.
Medical professionals in Naples remain cautious but optimistic about Shamm’s long-term prognosis. The team is gradually increasing her caloric intake, monitoring her metabolic responses to ensure that her body can handle the additional nutrients. "It’s a delicate balance," Dr. de Brasi explained. "We want her to grow, but we must proceed carefully given her underlying condition." The hospital’s approach is methodical, prioritizing steady, sustainable progress over rapid gains that could endanger Shamm’s fragile health.
For Shamm’s family, life in Italy is an adjustment. The trauma of displacement lingers, and the uncertainty of when—or if—they will be able to return to Gaza weighs heavily. "Everything is different here," Islam noted. "We are safe, and the girls are getting better, but our home is far away, and we don’t know what the future holds." The family’s experience reflects the broader reality faced by many Palestinian families who have managed to escape immediate danger but remain haunted by the instability and violence that persist in their homeland.
Shamm’s case has drawn international attention not only because of her dramatic recovery but also for what it reveals about the intersection of conflict, health, and humanitarian need. Her story is a microcosm of Gaza’s crisis, where medical emergencies are compounded by political and logistical barriers. The coordinated efforts that brought her to Italy—spanning aid organizations, medical professionals, and diplomatic channels—demonstrate what is possible when the world responds to individual stories amid overwhelming statistics.
Yet, as experts and advocates warn, Shamm’s journey is the exception rather than the rule. For every child evacuated and treated, countless others remain trapped in Gaza, their needs unmet and their futures uncertain. The blockade and ongoing hostilities continue to disrupt daily life, making even basic survival a challenge for many families. As Dr. de Brasi put it, "Shamm is lucky, but there are many children who need help just as urgently."
As Shamm continues her recovery in Naples, her story serves as both a beacon of hope and a call to action. The resilience displayed by her and her family is remarkable, but it is the conditions that necessitated their journey that demand the world’s attention. The crisis in Gaza is far from over, and the plight of its children remains one of the most urgent humanitarian challenges of our time.