While Abdul Khaliq Mirghani was inspecting a projectile in front of his house at Jumaa Market district, it exploded. This resulted in the double amputation of both of the 16-year-old’s hands in July 2011.

“When my hands were amputated, I was deeply traumatized. I had to travel to Germany for medical treatment where I had electronically-powered limbs fitted,” he says. “So I was able to continue my studies despite the loss of both my hands.”

While Abdul Khaliq Mirghani was inspecting a projectile in front of his house at Jumaa Market district, it exploded. This resulted in the double amputation of both of the 16-year-old’s hands in July 2011.

“When my hands were amputated, I was deeply traumatized. I had to travel to Germany for medical treatment where I had electronically-powered limbs fitted,” he says. “So I was able to continue my studies despite the loss of both my hands.”

Mirghani, a tenth grader at Al Arab Secondary School in Tripoli, will now have two new artificial limbs fitted at the Janzour Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled. These are to replace the German limbs he has now, which have become too small. Unfortunately though Mirghani’s new hands will not be powered at all, unlike the ones he has been using – they will only be cosmetic. That is, they will look like hands but won’t move or be powered at all. And no doubt this is going to be a frustrating experience for him.

Only cosmetic limbs available

Unfortunately the semi-electronic or powered artificial hands that Mirghani needs are not available at this rehabilitation center. Founded in 1983, it is the only center in the country specialized in treating these kinds of cases. That is despite the fact that there is a growing need for these kinds of artificial limbs, which can perform some of the functions that human hands can. Libya has been in the middle of major internal conflict for the past four years and many Libyans caught up in fighting have been left amputees.

Ghaith Mohammed, who heads the Artificial Limbs Department at the Center says that they have received about 2,000 cases every year, since 2011. And that is only in western Libya. Due to political and military divisions the country is currently split but there is no doubt that there must be thousands more Libyans who are also in need of the kinds of services the Janzour Center provides.

The raw materials needed for manufacturing the artificial limbs come from Italy and Germany and are made according to international standards, Mohammed says. He explains that technicians at the center measure the amputated limb in question, then manufacture the artificial limb and fit it, free of charge.

“Powered artificial limbs are not available in Libya at present and only cosmetic limbs are available,” Mohammed notes. “Cosmetic artificial hands don’t move like the electronic ones.”

The Center has approached the authorities in Tripoli to ask for help with supply of electronic prostheses but their request was denied.

The companies that are supplying artificial limbs have already been selected and contracted, says Mohammed bin Rajab, who heads the financial department at the Ministry of Social Affairs in Tripoli. And then political bottle necks have held up the supply of parts further.

Nonetheless his ministry has prepared “a wide-ranging plan to provide needed materials for the disabled and for amputees, pending legislative approval,” bin Rajab said.

Some hope for legless

Although powered artificial hands at Janzour Center are still unavailable, it is possible to get the more mobile, powered artificial legs.

Muftah Jaber is a prosthetic rehabilitation technician at the Center – he’s been doing the job for 38 years and it includes psychological counseling after fitting the artificial limbs – and he is proud to see the people who arrive in wheelchairs, leave standing up.

“With the artificial legs, I can do my daily work,” notes Nouredine Murabit, originally from Azzawiya city, around 40 kilometers west of Tripoli. “But I cannot pray in standing position.”

Murabit, 61, has two sons and three daughters and works in a senior position in the local wing of the Ministry of Justice – he lost his leg after an infection. But, as he says with a smile, he can now exercise his duties and he can even drive a car 80 kilometers.