Naples, Italy (AP) – Since declining from Gaza to Italy, Little Siam Kuday has celebrated her second birthday and gained weight with a new diet, including a special ridge.
A few weeks ago, a toddler It was all skin and bones When she clung to her mother at a hospital in southern Gaza, she was unable to get the food and treatment she needed for months due to Israel’s lockdown aimed at pressureling Hamas extremist groups to release hostages. She then refuge in Italy for treatment, along with six other Palestinian children.
A striking photo of Siamese crushing her hair and smearing it onto her mother’s arms protruding from her chest Associated Press Freelance Journalist Mariam Daga Just a few days before the child left Gaza on August 13th. it is The last picture of Daga. She was killed among 22 people August 25th Israel strike At the same hospital in southern Gaza.
Over half a million people in Gaza, a quarter of the population, have experienced it Devastating level of hunger Due to the blockade and ongoing military operations, the world’s leading authority on the hunger crisis said last month. That’s what Gaza city is in the north Experience hungersaid.
The toddler is healthy
By this week, Siam has sat, wary in a Naples hospital crib and drawn into her high ponytail with her amazing blonde hair. She wore a T-shirt decorated with the word “cute.” Her wide eyes glowed as her sister and mother called her name from across the room, and she invaded her smile.
This image combination shows top Shamuk-dei at the Nasser Hospital in Kaannis, southern Gaza Strip on August 9, 2025, and Qudeih at Santo Bono Pauli Ripon Children’s Hospital in Naples, southern Italy on September 2, 2025 (AP Photo/Mariam Dagga, Top, Top, Andrew Medicini
When she arrived in Italy, it weighed about 4 kilograms (9 pounds), and Siam was “in a serious and challenging clinical condition,” said Dr. Daniel DeBraj, a pediatric genetic disorder specialist who treats her at Santo Bono Pauli Ripon Children’s Hospital in Naples.
She currently weighs 5.5 kilograms (over 12 pounds), which is less than half the median weight of a child who is still older, Debris said.
The doctor said the “big part” of nutritional deficiency is due to genetic metabolic diseases called glycogen storage diseases that prevent the absorption of nutrients, particularly carbohydrates. This condition is managed primarily through a high carbohydrate diet.
So far, “We are very pleased with her progress,” De Brasi said.
Mother’s struggle
Shamm suffered from malnutrition from birth just weeks before the attack, in which Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 more hostages a few weeks before October 7, 2023. The 48 hostages were still in Gaza, with about 20 of them believed to be alive.
Israel responded with the attacks that Gaza health officials say Over 64,000 people have been killed Palestinians in almost two years of fighting. The Gaza Health Ministry, part of Hamas-run government and run by medical professionals, does not say how many civilians and combatants exist, but says that about half of the people killed were women and children.
The family was forced to travel more than 12 times, and Siamese’s mother, Islam, had a hard time visiting many hospitals and clinics and getting proper medical care. The doctors suspected a rare condition, but were unable to test it, but they treated it much less properly. They sometimes provided antibiotics.
“It has worsened as a result of a lack of food, treatment and possibilities,” Islam said in an interview with Siam, who is on his shoulder. “We had about 15 difficulties avoiding from tent to tent. We went on a long walk. It was hot along the way, and the sun was hitting us.”
For a while, the doctor administered a special formula, but Siam did not take it. After Gaza supplies became rare, they lost the habit of drinking milk.
united nations I warned last month Gaza’s hunger and malnutrition have been at the highest level since then war It’s begun. It was discovered that 12,000 children under the age of five had acute malnutrition in July. This includes over 2,500 people with the most dangerous level of severe malnutrition. The World Health Organization says this number is likely shortfall.
Islam Qudeih has shown her second birthday to a journalist at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip on August 9, 2025, shy Shamm to her significantly undernourished daughter Shamm. (AP Photo/Mariam Daga, File)
The last photo of Gaza
it’s been Nasser Hospital During his visit, Siam felt pain in his hospital bed during his visit in Khan Yunis, the city of Gaza, where Daga last photographed Siam on August 9th. Her arms, legs and ribs were skeletal and her abdomen were swollen.
Islam went to school with Daga, who visited the hospital.
“She was always in the hospital to check out Siam with me,” Islam said until the day she left for Italy. “She stayed to say goodbye to me until the final step on the stairs.”
After arriving in Italy, Islam learns that Daga had died in an attack that killed four other journalists.
“I was upset when I heard that she had died,” Islam said.
Shamm Qudeih, 2, is receiving medical care from Dr. Margherita Rosa at Santobono Pausi Ripon Children’s Hospital in Naples, southern Italy on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Andrew Medicini)
Continuous treatment
According to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Siamese is 181 Palestinian children undergoing treatment in Italy. About a third of them have arrived since March, when Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas and imposed a 2-1/2 month lockdown on all imports, including food and medicine.
Israel Deny that there is hunger In Gaza, despite opposing explanations from witnesses, UN agencies and experts. It says it has allowed enough assistance to get into the lockdown before and after, allowing for increased supply in recent weeks.
In Naples, the correct mixture of nutrients is available overnight, just as Siamese has a feeding tube in their nose. Doctors aim to remove the tube in about a month. During the day she is free to eat solid foods such as meat and fish. The cornerstone of her diet is a carbohydrate-rich ridge.
Her current intake is around 500 calories per day, and doctors are gradually increasing.
“In these cases, growing too fast can cause problems,” De Brasi said.
Judy Cuday, 10, is watching her sister, Siam Cuday, 2, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, as she sits in her bed at Santo Bono Pausilipon Children’s Hospital in Naples, southern Italy. (AP Photo/Andrew Medicini)
Her 10-year-old sister, Judy, was taken to Italy as a companion, and doctors began treating her after realising she was at least 3-4 kilograms low weight, De Brasi said. She has earned 2 kilograms (nearly 5 pounds) and is in good condition.
With both daughters improving, Siamese mothers are able to experience relief herself. However, it is too early to think about returning to Gaza, where Siamese’s father is.
“As long as the war is underway now, there’s no way to go back. There’s no chance for my daughters,” she said.
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Barry reported from Milan.
