Over quarter of those wounded in Gaza Strip have life-changing injuries: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday (Sept 12) that more than22,500 people- a quarter of those wounded in the Gaza Strip since Israel's offensive began last year, havesuffered "life-changing injuries" that require rehabilitation services now and for years to come.

Dr Richard Peeperkon, the WHO's representative in the occupied Palestinian territory, highlighted that the surge in rehabilitation needs was occurring alongside the wholesale collapseof Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure.

“Patients can’t get the care they need. Acute rehabilitation services are severely disrupted and specialized care for complex injuries is not available, placing patients’ lives at risk. Immediate and long-term support is urgently needed to address the enormous rehabilitation needs,” Dr Peeperkon said.

Many healthcare services are inaccessible

The WHO said on Friday that many healthcare services in Gazasuch aswound care, physical therapy, and psychological supportwereeither inaccessible or entirely unavailable, leaving thousands at risk of further complications, disabilities or even death.

Only17 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain partially functional, primary healthcare and community-level services were frequently suspended, due to insecurity, attacks and repeated evacuation orders, the UN health agency added.

"Gaza’s only limb reconstruction and rehabilitation centre, located in the Nasser Medical Complex and supported by WHO, has been non-functional since December 2023 due to lack of supplies and staff, and was further damaged in a February 2024 raid," the WHO statement said.

Additionally, the loss of trained physiotherapists due to the fighting between Israel and Hamas has further hampered rehabilitation efforts.

WHO emphasises need forsafe access to essential health services

Beyond the newly injured, tens of thousands of Palestinians already living with chronic conditions or impairments were now at heightened risk due to the collapse of critical services, WHO said.

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As the hostilities continued in the ongoing war, the UN health agency emphasised the need for safe access to all essential health services, including rehabilitation, to prevent further suffering.

It renewed its call for an immediate ceasefire to facilitate aid, rebuild the health system and save lives.