More than 6 thousand prosthetic limbs needed in Gaza

• 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.

According to the health authorities in Gaza, more than 123,000 people have been injured since the escalation in October 2023, including over 4,000 people who have lost limbs. Around 6,000 prosthetic devices are needed, including many for children, according to the WHO. Gaza now has the highest number of child amputees per capita in the world. Access to this type of specialised care is almost impossible in conflict zones such as Gaza. When children manage to be fitted with prosthesis, they still need ongoing support to maintain and change their prosthetics as they grow, a very difficult support to access in Gaza. 

International disability charity Humanity & Inclusion is on the ground trying to provide access to this vital care. Humanity & Inclusion’s teams are creating temporary prostheses in a new rehabilitation centre in Khan Younis and providing seriously injured people with physiotherapy and psychological support.

Prostheses for amputees

According to the WHO's partners, there are currently only nine Prosthetics and Orthotics technicians in the whole of Gaza. Far too few to produce and fit the number of prosthetic devices needed for the thousands of people who have lost limbs. 

Heba from Humanity & Inclusion is one of the few specialists. She builds prostheses and fits them to amputees in Humanity & Inclusion’s new Nahla Prosthetics and Orthotics Centre in Khan Yunis. 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.

Heba examines people’s amputations, measures their stumps and makes moulds for both leg and arm prostheses. She is married and the mother of two daughters – one seven, the other two years old.

"When I'm in the centre, I think about my family all the time. We live near the eastern border in Deir al-Balah – our house could be hit at any time," says Heba. “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.” 

The daily journey to work takes an hour and a half, with the constant fear of drones, rockets or shrapnel. In her free time, Heba teaches her daughter Sham to read and write - the schools are closed. She also cares for her mother, who suffered a stroke during the war. 

Heba now works five days a week, as the number of patients is constantly increasing. For many, Humanity & Inclusion’s Nahla Centre is their only hope.

Children fitted with a prosthesis need regular follow up

According to UNICEF, more than ten children per day have lost one or both of their legs.

“Unlike adults, children are still growing so they need their prosthetic limb to be adjusted regularly and changed every year. This level of care is very difficult for children to access in Gaza. A prosthetic leg means independence and self-confidence. It can completely change a life.” says George Graham, Executive Director of Humanity & Inclusion UK

Unwavering commitment 

Every single member of the 80 Humanity & Inclusion team members in Gaza 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.

Notes

• Spokesperson available upon request
• Full testimony and pictures of Heba available upon request

Since March 2025 and the Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid, Humanity & Inclusion team in Gaza has been able to provide the following: 

• Risk education / protection: 4,178 sessions were delivered in 38 camps, reaching over 41,400 people, including 52 persons with disabilities. Around 9,000 awareness materials were distributed.
• Recreational Activities: 24 sessions reached 3,275 individuals, including children, adults, and persons with disabilities.
• Rehabilitation Services: Nearly 2,500 individuals were assessed, with over 2,800 sessions delivered (including wound care and physiotherapy), and 236 referrals completed.
• Prosthesis & Orthosis Services: 26 assessments were conducted and 14 assistive devices (including repairs and prostheses) were provided.
• Mental Health: 529 sessions were conducted, including awareness, group, individual, and remote sessions.
• Inclusive Education: 101 children were screened using identification tools.
• Basic Needs Distribution: Over 17,900 items were distributed, including hygiene kits, dignity kits, diapers, learning kits, and assistive devices.