Gaza, November 13 (QNA) - Leaning on crutches that he never imagined would replace his leg, 51-year-old Palestinian Tawfiq Al Sheikh walks slowly through the corridors of Hamad Hospital in Al Zawaida, central Gaza.

His hope is to reclaim a semblance of his life before the Israeli assault, aided by a prosthetic limb that now supports his daily struggles.

Al Sheikh told QNA that he lived a normal life before the war, recalling the airstrike that hit his street at the start of the conflict. The blast led to an above-knee amputation and a long recovery, culminating in his referral to Hamad Hospital for prosthetic fitting.

Getting the artificial limb, he said, helped him walk again and resume his life, even if partially.

Al Sheikh expressed gratitude to the hospital and the State of Qatar for their support, noting the care he received from rehabilitation to prosthetic installation. It changed his life, from someone disabled and dependent to someone who can function in society again.

Established in northern Gaza in 2019 with funding from Qatar Fund for Development, Hamad Hospital is a leading center for rehabilitation and prosthetics.

It offers free services to Palestinians suffering from amputations, neurological injuries, and spinal trauma. In May, the hospital sustained severe damage from Israeli shelling, halting its operations entirely.

In October, the hospital announced the opening of a new branch in southern Gaza to expand access to medical and rehabilitation services for the wounded and disabled.

Ahmed Al Absi, head of the prosthetics department at the hospital, told QNA that the unit provides artificial limbs, assistive devices, and spinal orthotics. After repairs in March, the department resumed operations and began receiving complex amputation cases, many resulting from Israeli strikes and high-impact weaponry.

Since reopening, the department has fitted around 100 prosthetic limbs, focusing on above-knee and double amputations. Patients undergo full rehabilitation to adapt to their new limbs, restoring mobility and dignity in the face of war's lasting scars. 

Head of the Prosthetics Department at Hamad Hospital Ahmed Al Absi revealed that the facility has served over 5,000 cases since its establishment, with an annual average of 120 to 150 prosthetic fittings. Despite material shortages, the department resumed operations in March and is currently following up on 135 amputation cases in need of prosthetic limbs.

Al Absi emphasized that many patients require reintegration into daily life, noting that rehabilitation marks the beginning of recovery and social reintegration.

He cited numerous success stories, including students returning to school and employees resuming work after receiving prosthetics.

He stressed the high quality of limbs provided by the hospital, which significantly aid patients in adapting and participating in society.

However, he warned of severe challenges, particularly the critical shortage of prosthetic materials, which have not entered Gaza since 2023 due to Israeli restrictions.

He said they are facing major difficulties, in a month or two, their stock will be depleted.

Al Absi urged relevant authorities to supply prosthetic limbs and the necessary materials to meet the growing demand, especially as the number of amputees in Gaza continues to rise due to ongoing conflict.

In parallel, Assistant Undersecretary at the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, Dr. Maher Shamia said that around 6,000 amputation cases have been registered during the Israeli assault, most requiring urgent and long-term rehabilitation programs.

Speaking to QNA, Shamia noted that Gaza now records the world’s highest rate of child amputations relative to population size, according to a WHO report published in early October.

Children account for approximately 25 percent of all cases, while women represent 12.7 percent, figures that reflect the deep humanitarian toll on thousands of wounded individuals and their families.

He stressed the urgent need for rehabilitation and psychosocial support, particularly for children facing permanent disabilities at a young age.

Shamia called on international and humanitarian organizations, as well as health and rehabilitation institutions, to intensify efforts and expand emergency interventions to meet the needs of the wounded and ensure access to adequate care in line with the scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

The Strip continues to endure a humanitarian crisis following the Israeli offensive, which left more than 170,000 injured amid a near-total collapse of the healthcare system, widespread shortages of medicine and medical supplies, and the destruction of hospitals.

The Rafah border crossing remains closed, preventing patients from seeking treatment outside Gaza despite ceasefire agreements. (QNA)