In 2021 and 2022, the Ead Samawi Foundation supported the development of the physical rehabilitation center in Wau, South Sudan, a critical initiative aimed at improving the lives of people with physical disabilities in a country deeply affected by conflict. Years of violence have brought severe consequences for people across the country. Among conflict-affected populations, individuals living with disabilities are among the most vulnerable, often facing severe physical, social, and economic barriers that limit their full participation in society.

In response, the ICRC worked to expand access to essential rehabilitation services, ensuring that people with disabilities receive the care and support they need, lowering the barriers to quality care. In collaboration with the Western Bahr el Ghazal State Ministry of Gender, Child, and Social Welfare and the health ministry, the ICRC developed and inaugurated a physical rehabilitation center in Wau. Since becoming fully operational in 2023, the center has provided life-changing rehabilitation services, including physiotherapy, custom-made orthopedic devices, and mobility aids such as prostheses and orthoses. Additionally, recognizing the psychological toll of physical disability, the center offers mental health and psychosocial support to help patients regain confidence and reintegrate into their communities.

With approximately 2,000 people benefiting from its services each year, the Wau physical rehabilitation center is a lifeline for individuals who might otherwise struggle to regain mobility and independence. By combining its expertise in health services and social inclusion, the ICRC is not only restoring physical function but also empowering people with disabilities to reclaim their dignity, livelihoods, and place in society. In 2021, the ICRC helped 4,571 people living with physical disabilities including 983 new clients to regain their mobility at ICRC supported physical rehabilitation centers in Wau, Juba, Rumbek.