DaysofPal- The true toll of the conflict in Gaza is measured not just in lives lost but in the permanent physical and psychological scars left on tens of thousands of survivors. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 42,000 people have sustained life-altering injuries, with children accounting for one out of every four victims.
These survivors now face a future of profound disability within a healthcare system that has effectively collapsed after two years of Israel’s genocidal campaign.
The Social Isolation of the Wounded
“My friends are scared of me and run away. What did I do to deserve this?” Five-year-old Adam Abu Halib struggles to understand why his world has shrunk to a cycle of pain and isolation. A bombardment that targeted his family killed his older brother and left his mother an amputee receiving treatment abroad.
Adam lost his left eye and suffered severe facial disfigurement. His remaining vision is now under threat; pressure from the initial injury risks blinding his right eye. Beyond the physical danger, Adam faces a heartbreaking psychological battle. His peers now avoid him, turning his scars into a source of daily bullying and social rejection.
The crisis also leaves thousands of young adults in a state of medical limbo. Radi Ismail Abu Saad, 30, is now paralyzed from the waist down. A single bullet shattered two of his vertebrae and partially severed his spinal cord.
The danger has not ended. A bullet remains lodged just beneath his heart, posing a constant threat to his life. Doctors lack the capacity to perform the delicate procedure needed to remove it. His family, watching his condition deteriorate, is appealing to the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization for urgent intervention to transfer him abroad for treatment before it is too late.
According to data from the World Health Organization and local authorities in Gaza, around 42,000 people are living with injuries that have permanently altered their lives as a result of the war.
Estimates indicate that one in four of the injured is a child, making children especially vulnerable to long-term disabilities. These injuries include physical deformities, loss of vision or hearing, and mobility impairments.
Many require long-term rehabilitation programs, which are largely unavailable due to the near collapse of the healthcare system and the lack of necessary resources inside Gaza.
Reported figures show more than 22,000 injuries affecting arms and legs, over 2,000 spinal cord injuries, 1,300 brain injuries, and approximately 3,300 cases of severe burns. Health officials say these numbers reflect an overwhelming demand for specialized surgical and rehabilitation services, which remain out of reach due to the extensive destruction of medical facilities and the shortage of qualified personnel.
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