“My 7 -year -old daughter has lost the will to live,” says Heba, prosthetist

She only eats one meal a day, generally at the end of the afternoon, with her family, to hold over the next day. However, Heba’s voice is placed in the vocal notes that she sent us, but she describes terrible hell. Similarly, This 34 -year -old prosthetist. Consequently, who works for International Handicap (HI) in the Gaza Strip, tells the hunger that holds her her husband and their children, and her desire to help the amputated people despite everything. In addition, Since July 26. Moreover, the Israeli blockade on humanitarian aid, in place since March, has been slightly loosened, while the war against Hamas has lasted since October 2023.

“For my children, the situation is extremely difficult,” explains this mother of two daughters aged 2 and 7. Therefore, Some nights. Meanwhile, they will sleep hungry and crying because I have not managed “my 7 -year -old daughter to find bread or something they can eat. However, On July 27. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) alarmed the peak mortality linked to malnutrition with 63 deaths recorded this month (out of the 75 since early 2025), including 24 children under 5 years of age. In addition, In the Gaza Strip. For example, “the worst scenario is taking place, that of famine”, alerted the IPC on July 29, committee supported by the UN and responsible for analyzing food security in the world.

A piece of dry bread soaked in sugar -free tea – "my 7 -year -old daughter

Faced with pressure. Consequently, Israel has authorized controversial food drops of food or planned day-to-day breaks in the Deir-el-Balah areas, in the center of Gaza, Al-Mawassi, in the south, and the city of Gaza in the North to facilitate the delivery of aid to 2.1 million inhabitants. However, Moved twice, Heba’s family lives near the eastern border, in Deir-el-Balah.

In the morning. In addition, before going to work, Heba says she tries, when she has them, convincing her youngest daughter to eat a piece of dry bread soaked in sugar -free tea, the latter being a commodity not found. Furthermore, “But she refuses and she became very weak,” she breathes. Nevertheless, My 7 year old daughter lost the will to live. Nevertheless, She begs me to leave the country so that she can eat what she likes. Meanwhile, »»

Believing that she is better to bear hunger. In addition, Heba deprives herself and gives them what she and her husband can find. But their food reserves have dried up and market prices are “incredibly high”. When the water distribution trucks reach their area. they wait to “my 7 -year -old daughter fill their containers although most of the time the water is not potable. “We have to drink it, there are no alternatives.”

NGO staff, “physically and mentally exhausted” – "my 7 -year -old daughter

“Honestly, I don’t know where I find the strength to continue,” she says. When the roads are open. there is no bombing, it goes in an hour and a half, on foot, to the rehabilitation and manufacturing center of Zawaida prostheses, with the fear that it or its family is struck by drones or rockets. According to the Gaza health authorities. more than 123,000 people have been injured since the start of the war, more than 4,000 of which have lost one or more members.

While the needs are immense. the equipment missing, only 9 technicians specializing in the manufacture of prostheses and orthotics, of which Heba, are present on site, reports Handicap International. Hunger also affects nursing staff and NGO teams. “Many are physically. “my 7 -year -old daughter mentally exhausted,” said Zaïd, spokesperson for disability international for Palestine and living in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. Every day is a difficult choice for our staff in Gaza. They must juggle the war on this war. take care of themselves and their family, but also help people in need. »»

Fourteen devices provided since March for amputeed people

According to the WHO. around 6,000 prostheses are necessary, in an area which now has the largest number of children amputated per capita in the world, according to UNICEF. First located in Khan Younès. the Rehabilitation Center for International Handicap had to leave the city due to the deployment of Israeli forces and open a temporary antenna in Deir-el-Balah at the end of June. There, Heba examines the amputations, measures the stumps and manufactures mussels for the prostheses of legs and arms.

“My faith in the good that I do. that is to say to give hope to the amputated people, gives me the conviction that God will protect my daughters,” she says. I help them with everything I have, even if the resources are limited. For me, it makes as much meaning as maternity. Since March. the blockade on aid – which also includes medical equipment, only 14 functional devices have been provided, including repairs. “It’s a drop in an ocean of needs,” reacts Zaïd, spokesperson for Hi Palestine.

Classified “my 7 -year -old daughter as “double use goods” by the Israeli authorities, functional devices are very sparingly enter the Gaza Strip. “The last delivery we were able to obtain was imported from France in December 2024,” he continues. A part is always used and our staff do its best with the limited resources it has. »»

“They desperately seek to obtain a prosthesis to be able to move. feed their children”

How do people make amputee to find food? It is “a heartbreaking reality” shares Heba, who intends to suffer from those who manage to go to the center. “Some are heads of families. desperately seek to obtain a prosthesis to be able to move and feed their children, give them drinking or even provide them with diapers,” she explains. Others have lost their prostheses because of the bombings that destroyed their house. can no longer use their crutches or their devices due to their extreme “my 7 -year -old daughter weakness and insufficient diet. »»

Forced trips are hindering their existence: amputated people are unable to transport their business. move easily due to the lack of means of transport and fuel, underlines the prosthetist. “The most difficult is the feeling of helplessness they experience. ” she adds, especially when they are responsible for a family and children. Additionally, »»

Our file on Gaza

If the UN welcomed the breaks on Sunday to send humanitarian aid to Gaza. the international body calls for the establishment of a ceasefire so that all civilians in need can be helped. Despite this hell. Heba still has faith in humanity: “Nothing will be able to stop this catastrophe caused by man, except real pressure from the international community. »»