Crisis Impact on Children: Sonia's Heartbreaking Story

In June 2023, while documenting the war in Ukraine, I encountered Sonia, a child battling retinoblastoma, a serious eye cancer. Diagnosed in 2020, Sonia's fight against this harrowing illness was interrupted by the war in 2022. Early on, Sonia underwent surgery to remove her left eye and began chemotherapy, but the conflict forced her family to seek refuge in Poland, where she received diagnostic tests but no chemotherapy. After nearly three months, her mother, Natalya, decided to return to Ukraine to seek treatment, leading to a devastating diagnosis of another tumor behind her right eye, resulting in the loss of her second eye in August 2022. Despite initial remission, Sonia's cancer resurfaced in March 2024. Tragically, she passed away on August 20, a casualty of both her illness and the chaos of war. This story represents countless children like Sonia who are caught in a tragic cycle of conflict and health crises, often neglected in the broader humanitarian response. The war's detrimental impact extends beyond immediate casualties to the long-term care of vulnerable populations, underscoring the need for greater awareness and support for children suffering from chronic conditions during crises.