Tens of thousands in Gaza face lifelong disabilities as health system nears collapse

Nearly 42,000 people in the Gaza Strip had sustained life-changing injuries caused by the ongoing conflict, according to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates released at the time. One in four of these injuries was in children.

Life-changing injuries accounted for one quarter of all reported injuries, out of a total of 167,376 people injured since October 2023. Over 5,000 people had undergone amputation. Based on a larger pool of data, the findings remained consistent with WHO's previous analysis.

Other severe injuries, including to arms and legs (over 22,000), the spinal cord (over 2,000), the brain (over 1,300), and major burns (more than 3,300), were also widespread, further increasing the need for specialised surgical and rehabilitation services and deeply affecting patients and their families across Gaza.

The report also highlighted the prevalence of complex facial and eye injuries, especially amongst patients listed for medical evacuation outside Gaza—conditions often leading to disfigurement, disability, and social stigma.

The updated analysis drew on data from 22 WHO-supported Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs), Gaza's Ministry of Health, and key health partners, providing a more comprehensive picture of rehabilitation needs resulting from severe trauma injuries.

As new injuries mounted and health needs rose, the health system teetered on the brink of collapse. Only 14 of Gaza's 36 hospitals remained partially functional, while less than one-third of pre-conflict rehabilitation services were operating, with several facing imminent closure. None were fully functional despite the efforts of EMTs and health partners.

The conflict had devastated the rehabilitation workforce. Gaza had once had around 1,300 physiotherapists and 400 occupational therapists, but many had been displaced, and at least 42 had been killed as of September 2024, according to the report.

On the day of the report's release, one rehabilitation health worker had reportedly been killed and one injured, along with two other health workers in the same attack. Those providing care were experiencing extreme stress and suffering. Despite the high number of amputations, Gaza had only eight prosthetists to manufacture and fit artificial limbs.

Rehabilitation was deemed vital not only for trauma recovery but also for people with chronic conditions and disabilities, which were not reflected in the report. Displacement, malnutrition, disease, and the lack of assistive products meant that the true rehabilitation burden in Gaza was far greater than the figures presented. Conflict-related injuries also carried a profound mental health toll, as survivors struggled with trauma, loss, and daily survival, while psychosocial services remained scarce. Mental health and psychosocial support needed to be integrated and scaled up alongside rehabilitation.

WHO, EMTs, and other health partners remained on the ground, working to meet urgent health needs. But to ensure access to care and scale up services—including rehabilitation—the report highlighted the urgent need for protection of health care, unhindered access to fuel and supplies, and the removal of restrictions on the entry of essential medical items, including assistive devices.

Above all, WHO called for an immediate ceasefire. The people of Gaza deserved peace, the right to health and care, and a chance to heal.

Source: 
World Health Organisation