TULKAREM, Palestine, November1, 2004 (IPC Exclusive)-Ahmad Abu Fada, a 10-years old boy from the West Bank refugee camp of Tulkarem, could not utter a single word when we began talking to him at the premises of a local handicapped society.
Ahmad is as similar as many other handicapped children, but he is a unique one, as he lost his voice due to three Israeli bullets that had hit his head while playing with friends in front of his house in April 27, 2004.

Ahmad's mother who was speaking on behalf of her son told us in a sad gushy voice " Ahmad has lost his voice after having been hit with the Israeli criminal bullets, which also caused him a semi-paralysis".

The mother's grieved-tone words went on " we were shocked when we heard Ahmad was wounded, as he has been the most cute amongst his brothers to the extent that his youngest brother Mohammad has been affected deeply by the wounds Ahmad had sustained".

" since Ahmad has been wounded, Mohammad used to repeat the story of the wounding to everybody. When the Israeli troops sweep into the Tulkarem refugee camp, Mohammad gets very scared, especially when a shooting takes place", the traumatized mom said.

She added that after being a handicapped, Ahmad has been turned into an isolated and sensitive person, keeping away from the eyes of his brothers as much as he can.

Mahmoud Katana, a local sociologist was quoted by the IPC correspondent as commenting on Ahmad's case: " there are many cases, especially children, who have been shot and wounded by the Israeli occupation troops throughout the Intifada. A number of whom have been incurred various kinds of disabilities including mental, physical and psychological.

Due to such disabilities, these children , such as Ahmad, have been deprived of their school desks, however, rehabilitation is going relentlessly so as they can get back to normal life as soon as possible, sociologist Katana made clear.