DaysofPal- The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) estimates that the ongoing conflict in Gaza has caused life-altering injuries to 15 children every day.
Gaza’s youngest population has suffered greatly as a result of the war, with many injuries leaving them permanently disabled, the agency stressed. This startling statistic emphasizes the critical need for prompt humanitarian assistance and the safeguarding of civilians, especially children, in the besieged area.
In the first 11 months of 2024, at least 5,230 children in Gaza sustained injuries requiring significant rehabilitation. However, attacks on hospitals, and healthcare workers, and restrictions on critical medical supplies have made access to rehabilitation nearly impossible. “These children face a high likelihood of disability,” Save the Children stated, underscoring the dire consequences of the lack of medical support in the besieged territory.
Dr. Ana Jeelani, an orthopedic surgeon working with Save the Children’s partner organization Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), highlighted the specific challenges of treating injured children. “When you treat children with injuries, they have growing bones. If you have an injury to the growing part of your bone, then that part will stop growing,” she explained. Severe malnutrition further compounds the problem. “We’re basically trying to stitch back wounds that won’t heal. Children are heading to amputations because bones are not healing, limbs are fixed but not functional because of the gravity of the situation,” she added.
Amid the physical toll of war, the education system in Gaza has also suffered catastrophic disruptions. Around 660,000 children are currently out of school due to the ongoing conflict, further destabilizing their futures. In response, UNRWA launched its “Back to Learning” initiative on August 1, 2024. The program focuses on mental health activities and basic education in 86 Temporary Learning Spaces established in 40 UNRWA schools-turned-shelters. More than 950 teachers and up to 750 school counselors are supporting these efforts. So far, over 18,000 children—more than half of them girls—have participated in the program.
Between January 6 and 12, 2025, nearly 9,600 children, including 300 with disabilities, took part in activities aimed at basic literacy, numeracy, psychosocial support (PSS), and recreational activities such as arts, music, and sports. These efforts are critical in providing a semblance of normalcy and emotional healing for children enduring the trauma of war.
The healthcare system’s collapse further exacerbates the crisis. Gaza’s sole limb reconstruction and rehabilitation center has been non-functional since December 2023 due to shortages of supplies and staff. A raid in February 2024 caused additional damage, leaving countless children without access to essential care. Save the Children reported that children requiring prosthetics and specialized treatments now face insurmountable challenges, as these services need to be updated every six months to accommodate growth but are currently unavailable.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in September 2024 that more than 22,500 people in Gaza now live with life-changing injuries requiring immediate and long-term rehabilitation. Additionally, tens of thousands of Palestinians with preexisting chronic conditions or impairments are at heightened risk due to the collapse of critical services, Save the Children highlighted.
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