UAE introduces 'Step of Hope' to support Gaza amputees

The UAE has launched a humanitarian initiative called 'Step of Hope' to provide prosthetic limbs for Palestinians who have suffered amputations during the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

The programme aims to restore mobility, support recovery and help injured and displaced people rebuild their lives.

The initiative, led by Operation Chivalrous Knight 3, in partnership with the International Charity Organisation, will be rolled out in three phases.

The first phase begins at the UAE Floating Hospital in Al Arish, Egypt, where patients will undergo medical assessments before receiving custom-made prosthetic limbs.

The second stage uses advanced 3D scanning technology inside Gaza to create digital models of patients' residual limbs.

The data will be sent securely to specialists in Al Arish, where prosthetics will be manufactured and then delivered back to beneficiaries in Gaza.

The final phase focuses on long-term sustainability by developing local prosthetics manufacturing capabilities within Gaza, including specialised production centres, supply warehouses and rehabilitation of existing workshops.

Speaking to the Emirates News Agency, Operation Chivalrous Knight 3's spokesperson Mohamed Al Sharif described 'Step of Hope' as a reflection of the UAE's commitment to easing suffering and restoring dignity, adding that the first stage will provide more than 40 custom prosthetic limbs.

International Charity Organisation's Secretary-General Dr. Khalid Abdulwahab Al Khaja said the project reflects the UAE leadership's commitment to placing human dignity at the heart of its humanitarian mission.

He added that the organisation plans to expand the programme to reach as many people as possible, building on previous aid efforts that have delivered food, medical equipment and essential medicines to Gaza.