Storyline: A prosthetics center in Goma of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been giving maimed victims another chance at life, as ongoing hostilities continue to cause serious injuries to civilians including women and children. During the fighting in the eastern DRC, hundreds of people caught in the crossfire had to have limbs amputated as life-saving treatment. It has now been three months since Venancienne Hitimana received her prosthetic limb. She had her leg amputated earlier this year after she was severely maimed during the seizure of Goma by the M23 rebel group. Her new prosthetic makes walking much easier, which makes a big difference in running her business selling vegetables. The orthopedic facility is supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Many limb-loss survivors are brought to the facility for exercises, examination and limb measurement. 27-year-old Violette Nyirarukundo is another amputee. She receives physiotherapy sessions at the Shirika la Umoja center in North Kivu Province, the same one that helped Hitimana, as she awaits her prosthetic leg. Nyirarukundo was wounded during an altercation between militiamen that initially left her with no hope of ever walking again. Each prosthetic limb is made by a team of specialists at the orthopedic center. Amid the conflict, these medics say they face numerous challenges. The prosthetic limbs are provided free of charge. In the past year, 722 people have benefited, while in the first quarter of this year alone, 326 people received the prosthetic devices. Many more continue to wait as their applications are reviewed. Shotlist: Goma, DR Congo - Recent: 1. Woman walking with cane 2. Various of woman selling vegetables 3. SOUNDBITE (Swahili, dubbed in English) Venancienne Hitimana, prosthesis recipient (starting with shot 2/partially overlaid with shot 4): "When my leg was amputated, I lost hope of ever walking again. I knew I had become disabled, useless, and that I'd never do anything by myself again. But the medical staff took me, cared for me and then taught me how to walk with crutches. When I had mastered them, they trained me on how to use prosthetics and today when I arrived at the hospital, I had nothing, no food or money. They took everything from us during the war. But the hospital gave us everything. I don't even know how much money was spent on my care. I can't count or estimate it and now I am active again. I work, I am a normal person with no problem, like everyone else." [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 4. Hitimana selling vegetables [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 5. Various of amputees doing rehabilitation training 6. SOUNDBITE (Swahili, dubbed in English) Violette Nyirarukundo, amputee: "If it hadn't been for the Red Cross, I could have been dead by now or in a very poor health with a serious injury. My death could have left my children orphaned, but I'm happy they see me alive. I arrived in Goma with my baby and we were treated well here at the center. In fact, I lack nothing." 7. Various of amputees doing rehabilitation training 8. SOUNDBITE (Swahili, dubbed in English) Gisele Kantu, ICRC Physiotherapist, Shirika la Umoja Center (starting with shot 7): "The Shirika la Umoja Center is the only facility with an orthopedic workshop that can offer quality prosthetics and orthotics despite the equipment and production being expensive. There aren't many centers, which is a problem. And the need is enormous. For instance, for a person who had an amputation ten or five years back and has a prosthesis, it needs to be replaced every two to three years. For children, it's every six months because they're still growing. So that means the need increases each year. And the hostilities are still ongoing, people are getting injured. So we have the old ones to fit, and we end up with new ones." 9. Various of amputees playing basketball, doing rehabilitation training. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]