Daijiworld Media Network - Gaza

Gaza, May 5: Humanitarian agencies have raised urgent concerns over the critical lack of prosthetic and rehabilitation services for amputees in Gaza, with thousands left without adequate care.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, more than 6,600 people in Gaza are in need of prosthetic support, and nearly 20 percent of them are children. The number includes many who have undergone amputations since October 2023. However, only eight prosthetic technicians are currently available to meet this overwhelming demand.

Aid groups warn that, given the severe shortage of trained specialists and restrictions on the entry of prosthetic materials, it could take five years or longer to address the existing needs—even if no additional amputations occur. They are calling for immediate deployment of international experts, expansion of rehabilitation facilities, and unrestricted access for essential medical supplies, which they say remain limited under Israeli controls.

Meanwhile, Tom Fletcher, the UN’s Emergency Relief Coordinator, stated that humanitarian efforts in Gaza are ongoing and have helped save lives, prevent famine, and restore some essential services. However, he emphasized that far more needs to be done, including ensuring sustained humanitarian access, protecting civilians, and maintaining neutrality in aid delivery.

Relief organizations have recently distributed basic supplies such as tents, bedding, and protective materials to around 4,500 households. In areas like Khan Younis, temporary shelters made from plastic sheets are being used to house displaced families, with plans to improve them once more materials are allowed in.

Health workers have also reported rising concerns over skin infections and other illnesses linked to poor living conditions, including the spread of pests and rodents, highlighting the worsening humanitarian situation in the region.