Gaza’s Amputees Face Dire Shortages Amid Ongoing Struggles

In the Gaza Strip, thousands of amputees are grappling with the harsh realities of life following severe injuries from ongoing conflicts. As they wait for crucial medical treatment and prosthetic limbs, their hopes for a better future remain dim. The situation is particularly dire for individuals like Haneen al-Mabhouh, who lost her leg and her four daughters during an Israeli airstrike in July 2024.

Al-Mabhouh, now confined to a wheelchair, longs to walk again and dreams of starting a family anew. “For the past year and a half, I have been unable to move around, to live like others,” she expressed from her parents’ home in Nuseirat. “Now my future is paralyzed. They destroyed my dreams.” The aftermath of conflict has left her awaiting medical evacuation for treatment that is unavailable in Gaza.

The World Health Organization estimates that there are between 5,000 and 6,000 amputees in Gaza, with approximately 25% being children. Despite a two-month ceasefire, progress in delivering medical aid and evacuating patients has been minimal. Al-Mabhouh has been on the list for evacuation for ten months but has yet to receive permission to leave the territory.

Medical Evacuations Slow Despite Ceasefire

Since the ceasefire began in October, only 235 patients have been evacuated from Gaza, averaging fewer than five per day. This is a slight increase from the average of three per day prior to the ceasefire. The Israeli authorities have indicated a willingness to allow patients to leave through the Rafah crossing into Egypt, but logistical challenges continue to impede progress.

Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, the WHO’s representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, highlighted the lack of available countries to host evacuated patients as a significant hurdle. New evacuation routes need to be established, particularly to areas such as the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where hospitals are prepared to receive patients.

As the medical evacuations remain sluggish, many individuals are left in a state of limbo. Yassin Marouf, a 23-year-old who lost his left foot to Israeli shelling, describes his grim situation. “If I want to go to the bathroom, I need two or three people to carry me,” he said, highlighting the day-to-day struggles faced by amputees in Gaza.

Prosthetic Limb Shortage Intensifies Suffering

The humanitarian crisis extends beyond medical evacuations. The WHO reported that around 42,000 Palestinians have sustained life-altering injuries, including amputations, during the ongoing conflict. There is a significant shortage of assistive products, such as wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs, exacerbating the plight of those in need.

The Artificial Limbs and Polio Center in Gaza City, one of the few facilities still operational, has struggled to meet the demand. It has provided prosthetic limbs to only 250 cases since the war began, with supplies running critically low. Al Ghussein, the center’s director, noted that while some essential supplies were recently allowed into Gaza, no pre-made prosthetics have entered.

Individuals like Ibrahim Khalif, who lost his leg in an airstrike while out for food, face an uncertain future. “I used to be the provider for my kids, but now I’m sitting here,” he lamented, emphasizing the profound impact of the conflict on his ability to support his family.

As the situation in Gaza continues to evolve, the urgent need for comprehensive medical assistance and support for amputees remains a critical concern. The hopes of many, like al-Mabhouh and her fellow amputees, rest on the international community’s response to their pleas for aid and the restoration of their lives.