The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre has completed a volunteer medical project providing prosthetic limbs to 20 Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
The mission formed part of Saudi Arabia’s expanding international programme of humanitarian prosthetic care for people affected by war, displacement and traumatic limb loss.
The project was delivered by a specialist KSrelief medical team and follows several earlier prosthetic-fitting missions organised for Ukrainian refugees in the Polish city of Rzeszów.
Supporting Ukrainian amputees displaced by war
Many Ukrainians who have sustained amputations since the beginning of the war have been required to travel outside the country for treatment, rehabilitation or prosthetic fitting.
Poland has become one of the main destinations for displaced Ukrainian civilians and injured patients because of its proximity to Ukraine and its established humanitarian and medical-support networks.
Prosthetic missions in Poland can provide patients with access to clinical assessment, component fitting and rehabilitation away from active conflict and pressure on Ukraine’s healthcare system.
However, patients may still require long-term follow-up after returning home or relocating to another country.
KSrelief has delivered repeated missions in Rzeszów
The latest project continues a series of Saudi-supported prosthetic missions for Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
In April 2026, KSrelief launched a four-day project in Rzeszów involving seven volunteers. By the second day, the team had already fitted prosthetic limbs for 11 beneficiaries.
A previous mission held from 17 to 24 November 2025 involved eight volunteers and also provided prosthetic fittings for 20 Ukrainian beneficiaries.
Earlier Saudi missions in Poland have similarly focused on people who experienced limb loss as a result of the conflict and subsequent displacement.
The repeated projects suggest that KSrelief is developing an ongoing model of short-term international prosthetic missions rather than conducting a single isolated intervention.
Prosthetic fitting requires multidisciplinary support
Although the Saudi Press Agency announcement focused on the number of prosthetic limbs fitted, successful rehabilitation involves considerably more than supplying a device.
Patients with traumatic amputations may require:
- Surgical and wound review
- Residual-limb preparation
- Pain management
- Prosthetic assessment and prescription
- Socket fitting and alignment
- Physiotherapy and gait training
- Occupational therapy for upper-limb users
- Psychological support
- Repair and maintenance services
- Replacement sockets as the residual limb changes
Patients injured during war may also have fractures, nerve damage, burns, traumatic brain injuries or injuries to the remaining limb.
These factors can influence whether a patient is medically ready for prosthetic fitting and how successfully the device can be incorporated into everyday life.
Socket fit is central to long-term use
The socket forms the physical connection between the patient and the prosthesis and is one of the most important determinants of comfort and function.
Residual limbs can change in shape and volume following surgery, particularly during the first year after amputation. This may require repeated socket adjustments or the manufacture of a replacement socket.
A prosthesis fitted during a short overseas mission must therefore be supported by a clear follow-up pathway.
Without access to later adjustments, a device that initially fits well can become uncomfortable, unstable or difficult to use.
For Ukrainian refugees, continuity of care may be particularly challenging because patients can move between Poland, Ukraine and other European countries during their rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation must continue after delivery
Lower-limb prosthetic users normally require physiotherapy to develop balance, strength and an efficient walking pattern.
Training may include:
- Standing and weight transfer
- Prosthetic knee or foot control
- Walking on level surfaces
- Stair and ramp negotiation
- Fall prevention
- Community mobility
- Safe use of walking aids
- Skin inspection and device care
Upper-limb users may require occupational therapy to learn how to operate the terminal device and use it during dressing, eating, work and other everyday activities.
The clinical outcome should therefore be assessed through mobility, independence and device use rather than only by counting the number of prostheses fitted.
Saudi Arabia expands humanitarian prosthetic care
KSrelief delivers health and rehabilitation programmes through Saudi Arabia’s international humanitarian-assistance system.
Its prosthetic projects have traditionally had a strong presence in countries affected by conflict and displacement, including Yemen and Syria.
The missions in Poland demonstrate a broader geographical reach, with Saudi medical volunteers supporting Ukrainian patients displaced into Europe.
KSrelief describes these programmes as part of its efforts to reduce the suffering of amputees and help beneficiaries regain hope and independence.
Short missions require strong local partnerships
Volunteer missions can help address immediate needs and provide specialist expertise where local services are under pressure.
However, the long-term success of this model depends heavily on co-operation with local clinics, prosthetists, physiotherapists and refugee-support organisations.
Local partners may be required to provide:
- Patient selection before the mission
- Medical records and imaging
- Clinical facilities
- Translation and transport
- Rehabilitation after fitting
- Socket adjustments
- Component repairs
- Replacement consumables
- Long-term outcome monitoring
Establishing these arrangements before the visiting team leaves can reduce the risk of patients being left without technical support.
Need for sustainable capacity in Ukraine
Overseas fitting programmes remain important while the war continues, but the longer-term objective should include strengthening prosthetic and rehabilitation capacity inside Ukraine.
This requires investment in:
- Prosthetist and orthotist education
- Technician training
- Multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams
- Modern workshop equipment
- Prosthetic component supply chains
- Digital assessment and manufacturing
- Regional repair centres
- Outcome measurement
- Community reintegration services
Building local capacity would allow more patients to receive care closer to their families and make it easier to access adjustments throughout the life of the prosthesis.
International missions can contribute to this process when they combine direct patient care with professional training and collaboration with Ukrainian clinicians.
Measuring success beyond the number of fittings
The completion of 20 prosthetic fittings is a positive outcome for the individual beneficiaries, but future reporting would be strengthened by including longer-term clinical results.
Relevant measures could include:
- Prosthetic wearing time
- Comfort and socket satisfaction
- Walking speed and distance
- Independence in daily activities
- Return to employment or education
- Frequency of repairs and adjustments
- Falls and skin complications
- Patient-reported quality of life
These outcomes would provide a clearer understanding of whether the devices continue to meet patients’ needs after the mission concludes.
KSrelief’s latest project demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s continued involvement in international prosthetic rehabilitation and its support for Ukrainians affected by traumatic limb loss.
Ensuring that each fitting is followed by rehabilitation, maintenance and accessible local care will be essential to converting the initial intervention into lasting functional benefit.
- Original Saudi Press Agency report
- KSrelief prosthetic project in Rzeszów, April 2026
- KSrelief Poland mission completed in November 2025
- King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre
- International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics
- World Health Organization rehabilitation resources
- WHO assistive technology resources
- UNHCR Poland