Gaza now has world’s highest child amputation rate, health ministry says

The Palestinian Ministry of Health has announced the launch of an international fundraising campaign to support a new fund for the rehabilitation of amputees and the rebuilding of rehabilitation services in the Gaza Strip.

According to the ministry, the Gaza Strip now records the highest rate of child amputations per capita in the world, with more than 5,000 people having undergone amputations since the start of Israel’s genocide. The figures were cited from a World Health Organisation (WHO) report published in early October.

The campaign was launched during the unveiling of a national initiative to rebuild Gaza’s rehabilitation sector, jointly led by the Welfare Association, the Munib and Angela Masri Foundation, and the Global Health Institute at the American University of Beirut, under the supervision of the health ministry.

A recent joint report underpinning the initiative revealed a complete collapse of rehabilitation services in Gaza, caused by the destruction of health infrastructure and the overwhelming number of wounded. By September 2025, the total number of injured exceeded 170,000, with at least 25 per cent expected to require medium- to long-term rehabilitation.

Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan said the ministry is committed to “leading national efforts to rebuild a rehabilitation system capable of meeting the needs of the injured and guaranteeing their right to sustainable care.” He urged local and international health organizations to coordinate efforts “within a unified national framework and through effective partnerships.”