Damascus — Prosthetics in a Time of Crisis

Before the outbreak of war, the Terre des hommes center in Damascus had become a regional reference for prosthetics and orthotics, offering specialised care to those who had lost limbs.

The simultaneous crises in Iraq and the massive influx of wounded refugees into Syria and Jordan transformed the Damascus center into a hub of knowledge and skill. Yet the war in Syria, beginning just days after these images were captured, cast a shadow of uncertainty: specialists displaced, patients scattered, and the fate of the centre near Bab Tuma unknown.

These photographs capture a moment suspended between expertise and upheaval, reflecting both the precision of medical care and the fragility of human endeavour when conflict disrupts life. They serve as a testament to the dedication of those who work to restore mobility, dignity, and the possibility of normalcy amidst turmoil.