Amid escalating violence in Eastern Congo, demand for prosthetics soars

Africanews (in English)

Amid escalating violence in Eastern Congo, demand for prosthetics soars  Prosthetic limb production has surged, from 422 in all of 2024 to 326 in just the first half of 2025. With no sign of the conflict easing, the demand is expected to grow.  READ MORE : http://www.africanews.com/2025/09/20/amid-escalating-violence-in-eastern-congo-demand-for-prosthetics-soars  Subscribe on our Dailymotion channel and receive all the latest news from the continent.    Africanews is available in English and French.  Website : www.africanews.com  Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/africanews.channel/  Twitter : https://twitter.com/africanews

Transcript

00:00Moving around is a struggle for 30-year-old Melissa.

00:06Her life forever changed after a bomb struck the town of Numbambiro in North Kivu province back in January.

00:15She narrowly avoided amputation, but her legs no longer functioned properly.

00:20War is not a good thing. It causes many to become disabled. Others die. Everything changes.

00:34War is truly evil. We pray for it to end and that the country's leaders have mercy on us and stop this war that causes so much suffering.

00:41Melissa is one of many receiving care at Shirika La Umoja, an orthopedic center on the front lines of Congo's eastern conflict.

00:56Also here is Amani. His wife and four children were killed by armed groups in April.

01:06The same day I was taken to the hospital and that night my leg was amputated.

01:10After that, they continued treating me and told me they had no other solution but to give me a prosthetic so I could walk like everybody else.

01:20When I arrived here, they welcomed me warmly and showed me how it was made.

01:25And when I tried it, I felt like I could walk again.

01:28Backed by the Red Cross since 2005, Shirika La Umoja has crafted prosthetics for gomers injured.

01:41But as fighting intensifies, so does the demand.

01:44In previous years, the numbers were not this high.

01:53Back then, most people coming here were born with disabilities.

01:57But today, there are four more amputees than before.

02:00Since early 2025, over 800 severely injured patients have sought help here.

02:12Presented demand has surged 326 limbs in just six months, up from 422 in all of 2024, and there's no end in sight.

02:22Sometimes the requirement was at 506 limbs in Brazil ...

02:24…

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