UN: Child Amputees Represent 20% of Gaza’s War-Wounded, Prosthetic Care in Crisis
UN: Child Amputees Represent 20% of Gaza’s War-Wounded, Prosthetic Care in Crisis
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The United Nations has reported that one in five amputees in Gaza is a child, as the region faces a critical shortage of prosthetic specialists and essential materials, leaving many without the ability to walk or regain basic functions.
On May 4, 2026, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric warned that more than 6,600 people in Gaza urgently need prosthetic and rehabilitation care, including thousands who have undergone amputations since October 2023. However, only eight prosthetic technicians are available to assist, making it impossible to address the overwhelming demand.
Dujarric highlighted that due to the severe lack of specialists and restricted entry of essential prosthetic materials, it could take five years or more to meet the current needs of amputees in Gaza. He also emphasized that “one in five amputees is a child,” stressing the urgent need for international prosthetic technicians and unhindered access to essential materials, which continue to be blocked by Israeli authorities.
Since 2007, Gaza has been under a severe blockade, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The Israeli offensive in October 2023 killed more than 72,000 people, injured over 172,000, and caused widespread destruction, further crippling the already fragile health infrastructure. The blockade has left Gaza’s 2.4 million people on the brink of starvation and in dire need of international assistance.
