Amputees in Gaza.. Three Years of Pain and Deferred Dreams
A report from the Mawasi area of Khan Younis documents the suffering of amputees in Gaza as the war enters its fourth year, through testimonies of wounded individuals and children who have lost limbs and suffer from a lack of healthcare and the absence of opportunities to travel for treatment and prosthetic fitting.
A report from the Mawasi area of Khan Younis documents the reality of amputees in the Gaza Strip as the Israeli war enters its fourth year. Their ordeal begins with the loss of a body part and extends to the loss of the ability to move, work, and continue life under a depleted health system, a severe shortage of medical supplies, and the inability of thousands of wounded to travel for treatment and prosthetic fitting. The report includes poignant testimonies: the child Rahaf Hamdan Abu Adhara, displaced from Rafah, whose leg was amputated above the knee and dreams of traveling to get a prosthetic limb, returning to school, and walking without crutches. And the wounded Muhammad Abu Odeh, who was injured in an Israeli rocket strike on November 19, 2023, and underwent amputation three times in one year, asserting that he does not want to leave his land but wants treatment and to return to Gaza. And Muhammad Khader al-Nawajha from Rafah, who describes amputees as a marginalized group waiting to travel amidst the occupation's obstacles. Hani Abu Musa, director of the Qassim Charitable Initiatives, places the issue in a broader context, noting that the number of amputees is estimated in the thousands, and calls for a comprehensive solution including a monthly income, treatment, expedited travel, and the establishment of specialized centers within the Strip.