GAZA - Twelve-year-old Palestinian amputee Samih Abdul Wahid struggles daily to use only his right leg in the central Gaza Strip. Seven months ago, an Israeli attack in Gaza City claimed not only his left leg but also the lives of his parents, robbing him of hope for the future.
"The blast caused a huge white cloud to form around me, which then turned black, and when I woke up in the hospital, my leg was gone, as were my parents," narrated by Abdul Wahid.
After two months of treatment in hospital, Abdul Wahid now lives with his aunt under a makeshift tent on the beach in Deir al-Balah, a town more than 14 km south of Gaza City. He has to walk at least 2 km on crutches to get food from the nearest market, and every step feels like a struggle.
"I wished they'd kill me," moaned the boy, his voice barely a whisper. "In this terrible life, I have no choice but to become a burden to society."
Since the outbreak of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza on 7 October 2023, more than 41,800 Palestinians have been killed and more than 96,900 injured in Gaza, a significant number of them children and women, according to health authorities.
The World Health Organization estimated in mid-September that at least 22,500 of these injuries are "life-changing" and require long-term rehabilitation. Among these, severe limb injuries predominate, with the number ranging from 3,000-4,000 amputations.
"Most attempts to save limbs from amputation have failed due to deep wounds, severe infections and especially unusual injuries caused by weapons," told Xinhua Marwan Al Hams, director of field hospitals in Gaza.
In addition, according to Al Hams, doctors are facing significant problems in rescuing the wounded due to a shortage of medical supplies. "We work in terrible conditions and are forced to make painful decisions regarding amputations," the doctor added.
The psychological trauma of amputation is often deep and long-lasting.
"I dreamed of being a photographer recording life in Gaza, but now my hands have blown up and my dream has been shattered," laments Diaa al-Odaini, a 15-year-old boy from Deir al-Balah who lost both his hands in a recent Israeli attack.
According to Al Hams, amputees like al-Odaini face significant challenges in Gaza in obtaining adequate care. Seeking treatment and obtaining prostheses abroad remains a limited option for them to restore hope for life.
XINHUA/ gnews - RoZ
PHOTO - Xinhua/ Rizek Abdeljawad
English 
Czech