Starting off my first month with Restoring Hope Society (RHS) – an NGO that provides comprehensive support to people with disabilities, including limb loss, in conflict zones – I went on my first mission to document a reel for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Though I have worked on news stories before, this was different.
I met Habibatullah, a three-year-old Gazan girl who was evacuated to Jordan under royal directives. She lost 3 of her limbs due to gangrene, a serious condition characterized by the death of body tissue due to a lack of blood flow or a severe bacterial infection, often requiring immediate medical attention.
Before evacuating Gaza, the family – like thousands of other Gazans – were living in a dire situation, where famine was rampant, and many resorted to eating greens picked from the ground. Thus, they believe the infection may have come from something the three-year-old ate in desperation for sustenance in a time where food was extremely scarce, almost non-existent.
For this international observance, the RHS Amman team and I decided to commemorate this day by taking Habiba on her first trip to an amusement park. Because she was born a year prior to the start of the war, this was a new experience for Habiba.
At first, our team was worried about how she might react in a new environment, an environment that, in truth, does not accommodate her situation. We were worried she would feel left out, wouldn’t be able to process what’s happening around her, or wouldn’t be able to play certain games.
However, upon arriving, Habiba threw herself into the experience; her excitement was evident, she wanted to play everywhere, and didn’t let her disability restrain her from having fun. Probably, having her older brother – a very emotionally intelligent boy, wise beyond his years – with her allowed her to feel more comfortable running around, knowing someone is always behind her.
Seeing her acclimate so well in a new environment showed us the true meaning behind the work we do. As a non-profit that adopts a holistic approach, we provide prosthetics, physiotherapy, psychosocial support, proper nutrition, and more because we know that without a well-rounded approach to rehabilitation, long-term recovery isn’t fully possible. Without one of these services, our work will fall through. We saw our efforts manifest in Habiba, transforming from a traumatized, medically unstable toddler to one full of hope and determination to break free from all that restricts her.
To me, Habiba represents the thousands of people, including children, who are living under occupation, war, and dire conditions, who have suffered from traumatic injuries that have resulted in amputation. Yet despite that, they have decided that their situation won’t limit their capabilities, and with our efforts in Gaza, we can restore some form of hope in their lives, to eventually restore complete mobility and independence.
Tala Sharaan 