In Gaza, a Generation Maimed by a Year of Bombing and Shelling

One year of relentless bombing and shelling in Gaza will leave a generation of people injured, maimed, and with permanent disabilities. 25% of all those injured in Gaza between 10 January and 16 May 2024, or 22,500 people out of 90,000, are in urgent need of rehabilitation services (World Health Organization report).

Noor Bimbashi, HI Advocacy Officer for Palestine, states,

"There will be a significant increase in the number of people with disabilities in Gaza. Even a seemingly minor injury or fracture, if it is not treated properly or becomes infected, which is very likely given the terrible hygiene conditions, could lead to complications and lifelong disabilities. Rehabilitation is vital to preventing complications and ensuring the best possible recovery for survivors, yet the system is collapsing under pressure. Despite all the challenges, HI’s teams provide essential care even with the fundamental equipment available.”

According to the WHO report, between January and May 2024, approximately 15,000 people sustained major extremity injuries, with an additional 3,000 to 4,000 expected amputations, more than 2,000 people suffered from major head and spine injuries, and over 2000 people received severe burn injuries.

Rehabilitation and Health Services Were Severely Disrupted

Many have acute rehabilitation needs, but rehabilitation services in Gaza have been severely disrupted by the ongoing conflict, leaving the healthcare system unable to meet the surge in demand: 70% of in-patient hospitals are now non-functional due to fuel shortages.

The destruction and disruption of primary healthcare and community-level services, frequently paused or inaccessible due to the conflict, have further compounded the crisis. Much of the rehabilitation workforce has been displaced, and reports indicate that, as of May 10, 2024, 39 physical therapists had been killed.

HI Helped Muhamad Recover from a Devastating Injury

“Late February, I was injured in the bombing of my neighbor's house. I was left with a comminuted shaft fracture in my left leg. After several surgeries, the HI team visited me to assess my condition. The assessment revealed an almost complete loss of knee flexion and severe muscle wasting due to multiple operations and recurring infections. I thought I would not walk again. I started rehabilitation, and gradually, my muscles strengthened. I reached a point where I could stand on one leg. Initially, I was trained to use a wheelchair and learned to move around. I progressed to using a walker, then two crutches, then a single crutch, and finally, I took my first steps without an assistive device. Today, I can go out with my friends, climb stairs, and visit the doctor without assistance, thanks to the relentless efforts of the HI team and my determination to heal.” (July 2024)

HI Rehabilitation in Gaza

HI rehabilitation teams comprise 232 professionals working tirelessly in these extreme conditions to assist those needing rehabilitation services. Between October 2023 and August 2024, HI organized 157,191 nursing care sessions (wound dressing), 169,761 physical therapy sessions, 57,692 occupational therapy sessions, and 48,190 psychological first aid sessions. We also supplied 2,500 mobility aids, such as crutches and wheelchairs, and 8,076 non-food items, including wound dressing, first aid, hygiene, and dignity kits.

The supply of mobility aids is falling drastically short of demand. The number of people in need far exceeds what is currently available or in the pipeline. WHO indicates that only 13% of needs for assistive products have been met. A drop in the ocean.

Call for an Immediate Ceasefire

HI remains alarmed by the very high number of civilian victims, the lack of safe humanitarian access, and the minimal number of trucks able to enter the Gaza Strip each day. Along with more than 800 other organizations, HI is calling for an immediate ceasefire to put an end to the massacre and ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the affected population.