Stories from the war in Gaza: “I wish I could get my leg back”

An estimated 12,000 children in Gaza have new disabilities caused by injuries they have suffered as a result of the current war. 5-year-old Malak is one of them. Since the war started, she has lost members of her family and suffered a traumatic injury that resulted in an above-the-knee amputation.

Malak has also lost her home. She is currently displaced, living in Gaza City, where staff at the Princess Basma’s disability unit at Al Ahli hospital are helping her come to terms and cope with her life-changing injury. Staff tell us that Malak is working hard to follow the rehabilitation therapy the team has given her but that she dreams of being independent again:

“I wish you could help me get my leg back, so I could walk like other children, run and play freely, and even go to the market by myself like I used to.”

There is currently an acute lack of customized prosthetic and orthotic devices in Gaza. But the Princess Basma Centre is working with the World Health Organization who have created a special task force to address this issue.

A customized prosthetic to accompany the crucial rehabilitation that she is now getting would make all the difference to Malak, and to many others. We hope we can soon bring you the news that she has received one.