GAZA, (PIC)
The Guardian published a report on Thursday highlighting the suffering of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who lost limbs during the war, saying that many now face complex humanitarian and legal challenges after moving to Egypt for medical treatment.
Ola Jamal, 36, told The Guardian that she was breastfeeding her two-month-old son, Zain, when the missile struck Nasser hospital in Gaza in November 2023.
When the explosion hit the building, the shrapnel went through Jamal’s arm while she held her infant, according to the British newspaper.
After a month, Jamal traveled to Egypt with her mother for further treatment and is now one of thousands of Palestinians living with life-changing injuries.
More than 6,000 adults and children have undergone amputations since October 2023, according to the World Health Organization and the Palestinian health ministry.
“At the peak of the conflict, it was reported that every day 10 children were losing one or both legs,” the report noted.
“The struggle of Palestinians with life-changing injuries to get specialized care and support is not just a medical issue. Egypt is the main border crossing and usually the first place amputees are taken when they leave Gaza. But most Palestinians who enter Egypt for treatment are held in a state of legal limbo. They are generally not granted formal residency or refugee status. The UN has not taken responsibility for Palestinians in Egypt,” the newspaper explained.
“Without valid residency permits, survivors say they are often restricted to hostels or share a flat with other families, unable to work and living under the constant pressure of temporary status. This lack of documentation makes accessing hi-tech, long-term prosthetic care almost impossible without the support of NGOs,” The Guardian added.
Yousef al-Deeb, 25, a certified prosthetist at Orthomedics in Cairo, told The Guardian that his clinic had treated about 300 Palestinian patients since October 2023, mostly through the support of NGOs such as the Turkish group Sadakataşı.
“The finance for prosthetics is not possible for them. NGOs are trying to help these people, which is good,” he said.
