Geneva — The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that at least 167,000 people in Gaza are currently living with life-changing injuries, highlighting the severe humanitarian toll of the ongoing conflict in the territory.
In its latest situation update, the UN health agency described the scale of physical disabilities in Gaza as “unprecedented,” noting that many of the injured have sustained amputations, spinal cord damage, and other critical conditions that will require lifelong care.
The WHO warned that the region’s health system, already overstretched by years of blockade and recurrent violence, is struggling to provide adequate rehabilitation, surgery, and trauma services. With hospitals operating far beyond capacity and medical supplies running critically low, thousands of patients face the risk of permanent disability without access to urgent treatment.
“Behind every statistic is a human being whose life has been permanently altered,” the agency stated. “The need for long-term rehabilitation, prosthetics, mental health support, and social reintegration has never been more urgent.”
Health officials further cautioned that the destruction of medical infrastructure, coupled with restrictions on humanitarian access, has worsened the crisis, leaving many of the injured without even basic care.
International humanitarian groups have echoed the call for greater support, urging the global community to step up efforts to fund emergency medical relief and long-term rehabilitation programs for victims of the conflict.
