42 Thousand Gazans Experience Life-changing Wounds, Quarter-Children

Handling of Israeli victims of attacks on Gaza. (Source: WAFA)

JAKARTA - The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday reported 42,000 people in the Gaza Strip, Palestine living with life-changing injuries, a quarter of whom were children, as a result of war.

According to the latest report by the UN agency, these survivors will need long-term care and rehabilitation for years.

Life-changing injuries include a quarter of all reported injuries in Gaza, with a total of 167,376 people injured since October 2023. More than 5,000 people have undergone amputation.

Severe injuries such as damage to the body's limbs, spinal cord and brain injuries, as well as major burns were widespread, creating urgent needs for surgical care and special rehabilitation, the agency said.

The WHO insists the prevalence of complex facial and eye injuries, especially among patients registered for medical evacuation abroad, many of which result in defects, disabilities and social stigma.

Prior to the war, Gaza had about 1,300 physical therapists and 400 occupancy therapists. Many have fled, and at least 42 people have died as a result of Israeli attacks until September 2024.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press conference the two-year war had destroyed Gaza's health system. He added that Gaza's civilian infrastructure damage was huge and would take a long time to rebuild.

He emphasized that rehabilitation services are also vital for people with non-communicable diseases and disabilities.

Since the beginning of the war, WHO has coordinated the evacuation of 7,841 patients for treatment outside Gaza. Following the closure of Rafah's crossing in May 2024, WHO has taken full over responsibility for all medical evacuations, most of which involve trauma injuries, cancer, heart disease, eye care, and congenital conditions. Egypt, UAE, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, and several European Union countries have received the highest number of patients.

Currently, 15,600 patients including 3,800 children are still on the waiting list.

"We can only evacuate once a week," said Tedros.

"I call for more countries to accept these patients, and for medical evacuation to the West Bank, including Jerusalem, to continue, and the frequency to be increased," he said.

He noted that health and humanitarian workers, including WHO staff, had worked in "hard and unsafe conditions, with very minimal supplies, food, transportation, and fuel. Some have suffered the consequences."

Meanwhile, Speaking from Deir al-Balah, WHO Representatives in occupied Palestinian territories, Rik Peeperkorn said Gaza only has eight specialists for the manufacture of prosthetics.

He warned that evacuation, malnutrition, and lack of aid meant the actual burden of rehabilitation was much greater than reported.

Survivors also struggle with deep psychological impacts, including trauma and loss, while psychosocial support is still limited, even for caregivers and families, he said.

Peeperkorn underlined the urgent need to expand psychosocial support in addition to physical rehabilitation, ensure health care protection, remove medical and fuel supply restrictions, and ensure sustainable investment to rebuild stronger health systems for the future.