Gaza humanitarian crisis and child amputations

Humanitarian agencies and the Gaza Health Ministry have reported a severe crisis affecting children in the Gaza Strip. UNICEF and the Palestinian Ministry of Health estimate that between 3,000 and 4,000 children have undergone amputations of one or more limbs, with reports indicating that at the peak of the conflict, an average of 10 children lost one or both legs every day.

Medical organizations, including Doctors Without Borders and the World Health Organization, noted that many surgical procedures were performed with limited or no anesthesia due to damaged healthcare infrastructure and critical shortages of medical supplies. The United Nations stated that Gaza has the “highest number of child amputees per capita in modern history.”

In response to these injuries, the Restoring Hope Society in Amman, Jordan, has begun facilitating the transfer of patients from the Gaza Strip to receive medical care, prosthetic limbs, and psychological support. The center provides physiotherapy and social assistance to help amputees manage the long-term consequences of their injuries.