Children with Albinism mutilated in Tanzania get new limbs in U.S.

Victims of a ghastly tradition that persists in isolated rural areas of Tanzania, four albino children recently returned to the U.S. to be fitted for new prosthetics. Each had a limb amputated by human hunters with machetes who believe that children with albinism - born without pigment - are ghosts who bring good luck if their body parts are ritually sacrificed.

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Baraka Cosmas, 7, is helped by a Customs Border and Patrol agent upon arriving at JFK airport from Tanzania, Saturday, March 25, 2017, in New York. Cosmas was returning to the United States along with three other albinos to be refitted for new prosthetic limbs for their growing bodies. The four, all albinos, lost limbs to attackers who believe body parts from albinos hold magical powers. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Global Medical Relief Fund founder Elissa Montanti, center, greets 7-year-old Baraka Cosmas shortly after he arrived from Tanzania at JFK airport with Mwigulu Matonange, right and Emmanuel Festo, second from right, and Pends Serengema, not pictured, Saturday, March 25, 2017, in New York. The four, all albinos who lost limbs to attackers believing their limbs hold magical powers, were returning to New York to be refitted with new prosthetics. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Baraka Cosmas, from left, Pendo Sengerema, Emmanuel Festo, and Mwigulu Matonange all jet-lagged from their travel to the United States rest as they wait to register at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Monday, March 27, 2017. The children from Tanzania with the hereditary condition of albinism are in the U.S. to receive free surgery and prostheses at the hospital. The children were attacked and dismembered in the belief that their body parts will bring wealth. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Baraka Cosmas height is measured at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Monday, March 27, 2017. The children from Tanzania with the hereditary condition of albinism are in the U.S. to receive free surgery and prostheses at the hospital. The children were attacked and dismembered in the belief that their body parts will bring wealth. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Mwigulu Matonange waits with Elissa Montanti, founder and director of the Global Medical Relief Fund during a prosthetic limb fitting at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Baraka Cosmas takes a break from his school work, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at the Global Medical Relief Fund home in Staten Island, N.Y. Cosmas, an albino from Tanzania was on a return trip to the United States to be refitted for a new prostheses. Albinos in traditional communities in Tanzania are hunted for their limbs which attackers believe hold magical powers. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Luis Velasquez, works during a prosthetic limb fitting at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 30, 2017. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Baraka Cosmas, from left, Mwigulu Matonange, Emmanuel Festo and Pendo Sengerema, play after their prosthetic limb fittings at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 30, 2017. Cosmas is missing half his right arm. Matonange lost his left arm. Emmanuel Festo lost his right, plus the fingers of his left hand. Pendo Sengerema had an arm severed at the elbow. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Jennifer Stieber brings in Mwigulu Matonange's prosthetic limb during a fitting at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 30, 2017. Cosmas, an albino from Tanzania was on a return trip to the United States to be refitted for a new prosthetic. Albinos in traditional communities in Tanzania are hunted for their limbs which attackers believe hold magical power. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Baraka Cosmas raises his arms during a prosthetic limb fitting at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 30, 2017. Cosmas, an albino from Tanzania was on a return trip to the United States to be refitted for a new prosthetic. Albinos in traditional communities in Tanzania are hunted for their limbs which attackers believe hold magical power. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Jennifer Stieber, right, fits Emmanuel Festo with a prosthetic limb at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 30, 2017. Festo is an albino teen from Tanzania who lost limbs to attackers that believe limbs from albinos hold magical powers. Festo was one of four children on a return trip to New York to be refitted for new prosthesis for their growing bodies. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Emmanuel Festo plays notes on the piano alongside Ahmed Shareef, while visiting a friend's home, Sunday, June 4, 2017, in Staten Island, N.Y. Festo, an albino from Tanzania, lost his left arm and fingers when he was attacked at home by those who believe the limbs of albinos hold magical powers. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Global Medical Relief Fund founder Elissa Montanti, right, listens as Baraka Cosmas, left, follows instructions from Ahmed Shareef, as they play on a piano at a friend's home, Sunday, June 4, 2017, in Staten Island, N.Y. Both Cosmas and Shareef are amputees from the elbow down. Cosmas, who is afflicted with albinism has severely limited eyesight and Shareef is blind. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Emmanuel Festo, 7, adjusts the strap to his prosthetic are while preparing for a dinner invite, Sunday, June 4, 2017, in Staten Island, N.Y. Festo was one of four children from Tanzania who were on a return trip to New York to be refitted for new prosthesis for their growing bodies. The four, all albinos, lost limbs to attackers who believe body parts from albinos hold magical powers. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

From left, Baraka Cosmas, Mwigulu Matonange, and Emmanuel Festo, pull on their new prosthetic limbs as they prepare to visit a friend's home for dinner, Sunday, June 4, 2017, in Staten Island, N.Y. The three, along with Pendo Sengerema, not pictured, are albinos from Tanzania who lost limbs to attackers who believe limbs from albinos hold magical powers. The four children were on a return trip to New York to be refitted for new prosthesis for their growing bodies. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Mwigulu Matonange examines his prosthetic limb after eating watermelon and cake for dessert at a friend's home, Sunday, June 4, 2017, in Staten Island, N.Y. Matonange lost limbs to attackers who believe body parts from albinos hold magical powers. He was on a return trip to New York to be refitted for new prostheses for his growing body. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Donna Fagan, second from right, talks with Pendo Sengerema, right, while serving a meal to her and Baraka Cosmas, center, Elissa Montanti, left, Emmanuel Festo, second from left, and Mwigulu Matonange, Sunday, June 4, 2017, in Staten Island, N.Y. The four, all albinos, lost limbs to attackers who believe body parts from albinos hold magical powers. All were on a return trip to New York to be refitted for new prostheses for their growing bodies. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Baraka Cosmas holds his new prosthetic limb after a fitting at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 30, 2017. Cosmas, an albino from Tanzania was on a return trip to the United States to be refitted for a new prosthetic. Albinos in traditional communities in Tanzania are hunted for their limbs which attackers believe hold magical power. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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Text from the AP news story, Albino children mutilated in Tanzania get new limbs in U.S.

Photos by Julie Jacobson and Matt Rourke

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