At least 42 specialist doctors have been killed in Gaza due to Israeli attacks on healthcare facilities, the World Health Organisation (WHO) stated, highlighting the devastating impact on the healthcare system.
According to a report newly released, nearly 42,000 people in the Gaza Strip have suffered life-changing injuries due to the ongoing conflict, with one in four of the victims being children, while over 5,000 people have faced amputation.
According to the report, in a release published on WHO’s website, a staggering 167,376 people injured since October 2023 have been documented by the global health body, with life-changing injuries accounting for one-quarter of all reported injuries.
The injuries include over 22,000 to arms and legs, over 2,000 spinal cord injuries, over 1,300 brain injuries, and more than 3,300 major burns.
WHO raised the alarm that the healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse, with only 14 of its 36 hospitals remaining partially functional.
It noted that less than one-third of pre-conflict rehabilitation services are operating, and none are fully functional.
The conflict has devastated the rehabilitation workforce, with at least 587 healthcare workers killed since October 2023, according to Healthcare Workers Watch.
“Rehabilitation is vital not only for trauma recovery but also for people with chronic conditions and disabilities,” said Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, WHO Representative in the occupied Palestinian territory.
“Displacement, malnutrition, disease, and the lack of assistive products mean that the true rehabilitation burden in Gaza is far greater than the figures presented here.”
The global health body is calling for urgent protection of healthcare, unhindered access to fuel and supplies, and the removal of restrictions on the entry of essential medical items.
Above all, the organization demands an immediate ceasefire, stating that “the people of Gaza deserve peace, the right to health and care, and a chance to heal”.