The World Health Organization said Thursday that at least a quarter of those wounded in Gaza’s ongoing war have suffered “life-changing injuries,” with many requiring amputations and other “major” rehabilitation needs.
The World Health Organization said in a statement that at least 22,500 people injured in Gaza in the 11 months since the war began “will require rehabilitation services now and in the years to come”.
“The ongoing destruction of the health system is accompanied by a massive increase in rehabilitation needs,” Rick Pepperkorn, the World Health Organization’s representative for the Palestinian territories, said in a statement.
At least 41,118 people have been killed and more than 95,000 injured in Israel’s retaliatory strikes since Hamas militants launched an attack on October 7, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.
The war, sparked by Hamas attacks inside Israel, has resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official Israeli figures, including hostages who died in captivity.
Pointing to the latest analysis of the types of injuries caused by the conflict, the UN health agency said those most badly injured included “several thousand women and children” and that many suffered more than one injury.
It estimated there were a total of 13,455 to 17,550 “serious organ injuries”, the main reason for the need for rehabilitation.
The report revealed that there were 3,105 to 4,050 incidents of amputation.
This includes spinal cord injuries, severe brain injuries and serious burn injuries, among other life-changing injuries.
At the same time, the World Health Organization said only 17 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are currently partially functional, while primary health care services are often suspended or inaccessible due to insecurity, attacks and repeated evacuation orders.
Gaza’s only organ reconstruction and rehabilitation centre, located in the Nasser Medical Complex and supported by the World Health Organisation, ceased operating last December due to a lack of supplies and specialist health workers.
“Sadly, the majority of the resettlement workforce in Gaza is now displaced,” the statement said.
“Patients are not getting the care they need,” Peeperkorn said.
“Acute rehabilitation services are severely disrupted and specialist care for complex injuries is not available, putting patients’ lives at risk,” he said.
“Immediate and long-term support is required to meet the vast rehabilitation needs.”
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