One in five amputees in Gaza is a child as prosthetic care crisis deepens, UN warns
With only eight prosthetic technicians for over 6,600 patients, UN says it could take five years or more to meet current needs
UNITED NATIONS, New York (MNTV) – The United Nations warned Monday that one in five amputees in the Gaza Strip is a child, as a severe shortage of prosthetic specialists and Israeli restrictions on the entry of medical materials leave thousands of patients without adequate care.
“More than 6,600 people need prosthetic and rehabilitation care, including thousands who have received amputations since October 2023, yet only eight prosthetic technicians are available to respond,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters.
“With severe shortages of specialists and restricted entry of prosthetic materials, it could take five years or more to meet today’s needs.”
Dujarric called urgently for international prosthetic technicians to be allowed into Gaza and for the unimpeded entry of prosthetic materials, which he said remain restricted by Israeli authorities.
He also flagged broader health concerns, including rising rates of skin diseases and other medical conditions linked to the presence of pests and rodents amid the ongoing humanitarian collapse.
Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza since 2007, leaving its 2.4 million residents on the verge of starvation. It launched a military offensive on the territory in October 2023 that has killed more than 72,000 people, wounded over 172,000 and caused widespread destruction across the besieged Strip.
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