Phone Calls from Palestine

Meet Heba, who is one of only nine prosthetics and orthotics technicians in Gaza – far too few to make and fit the number of replacement limbs needed for the thousands of people who have become amputees

She works tirelessly at Humanity & Inclusion’s new Nahla Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre in Khan Yunis, despite the constant fear of drones, rockets and shrapnel hitting her own home and children, never mind the hospital.

Heba, who is a married mum of two, builds and fits prosthetics to amputees while also caring for her own mother, who had a stroke during the war.

She examines people’s amputations, measures their stumps and makes moulds for both leg and arm prostheses.

Heba works five days a week while the number of patients continues to rise. In what spare time she has, she teaches 7-year-old daughter Sham.

All the schools are either closed or have been bombed.

But Heba’s journey to work takes an hour-and-a-half and is perilous. She also constantly worries about leaving her two children, one of which is just a toddler.

“When I’m in the centre, I think about my family all the time,” she says.

” We live near the eastern border in Deir al-Balah – our house could be hit at any time. Every day, I face the heart-wrenching decision to leave my daughters behind.

“I constantly worry about their safety while I’m at work, but I believe in the importance of my role – as a mother and as a professional – helping people regain their mobility and dignity.” 

According to UNICEF, more than ten children per day have lost one or both of their legs. And they need much more care than adults as they continue to grow.

“Unlike adults, children are still growing so they need their prosthetic limb to be adjusted regularly and changed every year,” says Humanity & Inclusion UK’s executive director, George Graham.

“This level of care is very difficult for children to access in Gaza.

“But a prosthetic leg means independence and self-confidence. It can completely change a life.”

The centre was named after one of the organisation’s physiotherapists who was tragically killed, along with her four children, in a bombing in December 2023.

Each of its 80-strong Humanity & Inclusion team is directly affected by the conflict.

Many of them have been displaced several times and are living in shelters. Yet they show up every day at work to provide lifesaving support.

This includes rehabilitation and psychosocial support as well as awareness sessions on how to stay as safe as possible from bombings and explosive contamination.

“I will continue my work for as long as movement is still possible and the security situation allows it,” says Heba.

The situation, at a glance:

• More than 123,000 people have been injured in Gaza since the escalation began in October 2023.
• 4,000 Palestinians have lost one or more limbs.
• Around 6,000 prosthetic devices are needed, including many for children.
• Gaza now has the highest number of child amputees per capita in the world. 
• The international disability charity Humanity & Inclusion is making temporary prostheses in a new rehabilitation centre in Khan Younis and is providing seriously injured people with physiotherapy and psychological support.

Humanity & Inclusion believes every child amputee deserves a second chance and prosthetic limbs should be available to every child who needs one.

If you agree, please sign the #ProstheticsforLife petition.

You can also donate to the Gaza Crisis Appeal.

Free Palestine.