Victims and Injuries in Gaza (as of September 29, 2024)
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to a devastating toll, with 41,615 deaths and 96,359 injured as of September 29, 2024. The victims include:

• Deaths: 13,737 men, 6,297 women, 11,355 children, and 7,271 elderly.
• Injured: 27,177 men, 14,123 women, 12,651 children, and 42,408 unidentified individuals.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been 8,878 traumatic health events affecting civilians in Gaza due to the conflict.

Disability and War Injuries in Gaza

The WHO’s report from July 2024 highlights the critical impact of the war on civilians, specifically the thousands now living with permanent disabilities.

• An estimated 22,500 people (25% of the total injured as of July 2024) now require long-term rehabilitation.
• Between 13,445 and 17,550 have suffered permanent limb injuries, often affecting multiple limbs.
• Between 3,105 and 4,050 have undergone amputations.
• Over 2,000 people have suffered severe burns.

The primary causes of these injuries are explosive weapons used in densely populated areas. The aftermath includes traumatic amputations, fractures, nerve and spinal cord damage, brain injuries, and severe burns (Humanity & Inclusion, Human Rights Watch).

During the first three months of the war, thousands of children lost one or both legs, with many undergoing amputations without anesthesia (UNICEF). The presence of unexploded ordnance continues to threaten the safety of surviving children (Humanity & Inclusion, UN Mine Action Service).

Emergency Health Crisis in Gaza

The healthcare system in Gaza is in critical condition.

• 759 healthcare workers have been killed since the conflict began.
• 984 healthcare personnel have been injured.
• 225 ambulances and medical transports have been attacked.

Dr. Richard Peeperkorn, the WHO representative in the Occupied Territories, reports that the destruction of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure is severely limiting access to essential rehabilitation services. The collapse of these services is putting lives at extreme risk. Only 17 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are partially operational, and many outpatient and primary care services have been halted due to continuous attacks and evacuation orders.

The Nasser Medical Complex, Gaza's only center for limb reconstruction and rehabilitation, was damaged in February 2024. The continued bombing of medical facilities has decimated healthcare worker numbers; fatalities between October 2023 and August 2024 surpass those recorded in 2021 and 2022 combined (Medical Aid for Palestinians).

Scarcity of Medical Resources and Prosthetics

Beyond damaged infrastructure, the lack of specialized healthcare workers and prosthetics worsens the situation. 39 physiotherapists working under the WHO were killed in bombings, leaving Gaza without essential rehabilitation services. The need for prosthetics far exceeds availability, compounding the crisis for the thousands requiring limb replacements.

Sources: World Health Organization (July 2024), OCHA OPT (September 2024).