Gaza's child amputees face severe recovery challenges

The United Nations reports that the ongoing conflict in Gaza has resulted in a significant number of child amputees, the largest recorded in modern history. A recent 17-month military campaign by Israel has led to many children losing limbs due to airstrikes. Five-year-old Sila Abu Aqlan is among the child amputees. She recently began learning to walk using a prosthetic leg after her own was amputated following severe burns from an Israeli airstrike. Many children in Gaza face similar struggles as they cope with the physical and emotional impacts of their injuries. Aid to Gaza has faced challenges. Although a ceasefire in January allowed some medical supplies to flow into the region, it only met about 20% of the needs for prosthetics and other medical devices. A recent decision by Israel to cut off all medical aid has worsened the situation, particularly after the resumption of military operations that have increased the number of injuries and amputations. The psychological impact on children is severe. Sila's family was killed in an airstrike, and she struggles with feelings of loss and pain. Similarly, 11-year-old Reem, who lost her hand during an airstrike, finds it difficult to perform daily tasks without help and has expressed distressing thoughts about her situation. Experts estimate that between 3,000 and 4,000 children in Gaza have undergone amputations due to the conflict. Many more suffer from severe limb injuries that place them in need of rehabilitation. Hospitals have faced shortages of essential medicines, leading to many avoidable amputations. Conditions for displaced families in Gaza further complicate recovery. A 13-year-old boy named Moath had his leg amputated and now lives in a tent camp after fleeing his destroyed home. His father reports that Moath is struggling psychologically, unable to cope with the loss of his friends and the challenges of recovery in such harsh conditions. Aid organizations are doing what they can to help, but supplies remain limited, and the need for wheelchairs and prosthetics continues to rise. Some children have been evacuated for treatment abroad, but the process is slow and has recently faced additional delays due to ongoing violence. Families like that of Abdulrahman, an 11-year-old who also lost a leg in an airstrike, hope for better medical care outside Gaza. His mother expresses heartbreak as he struggles with bullying and isolation since he can no longer engage in play like other children. The situation for child amputees in Gaza remains dire as they navigate their injuries amid ongoing conflict.