GAZA, SEATIZENS.ID – In central Gaza, a 12-year-old Palestinian amputee named Samih Abdul Wahid faces daily challenges, relying solely on his right leg. Seven months ago, an Israeli attack in Gaza City not only took his left leg but also claimed the lives of both his parents, destroying his hopes for the future.
“The explosion caused a huge white cloud around me, which then turned black,” Abdul Wahid recalled of the tragic incident.
“When I woke up in the hospital, my leg was gone, and so were my parents,” Samih Abdul Wahid continued.
After spending two months in the hospital, Abdul Wahid now lives with his aunt in an emergency tent on the beach of Deir al-Balah, a town more than 14 kilometers south of Gaza City. To get food from the nearest market, he has to walk at least 2 kilometers with crutches. As an amputee, every step feels like a struggle.
“I wish I had died,” the boy whispered quietly.
“I have nothing left in this horrible life, except being a burden on society,” he added.
Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted in Gaza on October 7, 2023, more than 41,800 Palestinians have been killed, and over 96,900 others have been injured, most of them women and children, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated in mid-September that at least 22,500 of these injuries were “life-changing,” requiring long-term rehabilitation. Of these cases, severe limb injuries were the most common, with between 3,000 to 4,000 amputations reported.
Many attempts to save limbs from amputation have failed due to deep wounds, severe infections, and especially the unusual nature of injuries from various weapons, said Marwan Al Hams, director of a field hospital in Gaza, speaking to Xinhua.
Al Hams added that doctors face significant challenges in treating the injured due to a shortage of medical supplies. “We are working in horrific conditions, and we are forced to make painful decisions regarding amputations,” he said.
The psychological trauma caused by amputations often runs deep and lasts a long time.
“I dreamed of recording life in Gaza as a photographer, but now my hands are gone, and my dreams are shattered,” lamented Diaa al-Odaini, a 15-year-old boy from Deir al-Balah who lost both his hands in a recent Israeli attack.
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According to Al Hams, amputees like al-Odaini face difficult challenges in receiving proper care in Gaza. For many, seeking treatment abroad to obtain prosthetic limbs remains a limited option for restoring hope in their lives.
(Mars)
