In a partially destroyed home in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, 14-year-old Noor Al-Ashqar is living a childhood reshaped in a single moment.
Noor used to go out with her father to collect firewood, trying to secure the most basic needs for their family amid war and famine, without knowing that this trip would divide her life into a before and after.
She says a sudden strike hit the area nearby, turning what was meant to be a simple search for firewood into a scene of fear and destruction.
Noor suffered severe injuries that led to the amputation of her leg. Her father was also injured and lost his leg, as both of them suddenly found themselves facing a new life filled with pain and harsh changes.
She describes that moment as a nightmare, especially seeing her father injured beside her. Today, he moves with the help of crutches, while she sometimes depends on her mother and sisters for the simplest daily movements.
Noor says:
“I live my day like any other… I wake up and go to school to continue my education. I don’t want to stop after losing my leg. I play with my sisters and friends, and I wait for the day I travel for treatment to get a prosthetic limb and walk again.”
After the injury, Noor began a long treatment journey between hospitals and shelters, amid a severe lack of medical resources and difficulty accessing proper care.
The pain was not only physical. It extended into every detail of her daily life, as she now needs help moving around and faces feelings of sadness and fear, along with occasional looks of pity and bullying from other children, which made her more withdrawn.
She adds:
“I try to hold on to anything that brings back a sense of normal life… my school, my friends, and my old dreams. I used to participate in running races and always came first.”
Despite everything she has lost, Noor still holds on to one hope: to one day receive a prosthetic limb that allows her to walk again and return to her life, school, and play like other children.
