Alarming Rise: Gaza's Dire Health Crisis Sees Over 10 Children Losing Limbs Daily, Warn Aid Organizations
Amidst the devastating crisis in Gaza, over 10 children per day have tragically lost their legs, many undergoing amputations without anesthesia This dire situation highlights the horrifying consequences of the Israeli bombardment, leading to a deadly cycle of suffering
On average, over 10 children per day in Gaza have lost a limb since October 7, with some amputations being performed without anesthesia, according to a charity. This highlights the severe humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave after more than three months of Israeli bombardment. Save the Children's director for the occupied Palestinian territory, Jason Lee, emphasized the unnecessary and avoidable suffering of children in this conflict, citing United Nations statistics.
He stated, "The deliberate targeting of children is an egregious violation of their rights and those responsible must be brought to justice." Save the Children cited comments made by UNICEF representative James Elder, who reported upon his return from Gaza on December 19 that approximately 1,000 children had suffered the loss of one or both of their legs since October 7, when Hamas initiated its assault on Israel and conflict erupted.
On December 28, 2023, Noor Marouf, a Palestinian girl, had her limb amputated following injuries sustained in an Israeli strike. She was photographed at the European Hospital in Rafah, located in the southern Gaza Strip.
Arafat Barbakh/Reuters
According to the charity, the World Health Organization stated that numerous operations on children in Gaza were performed without anesthesia due to severe shortages of medical supplies and basic goods.
Lee witnessed doctors and nurses struggling to cope with the overwhelming number of children arriving with blast wounds. He described the impact of seeing these children in so much pain, without the necessary equipment and medicines to treat them or ease their suffering, as too much for even experienced professionals to handle.
Children are nearly seven times more likely to die from blast injuries than adults as they are more vulnerable and sensitive to injuries, according to the charity.
Palestinians are seen lining up to receive donated food at a distribution point in a refugee camp in Rafah, located in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. This scene took place on December 23, 2023, amidst the ongoing conflicts between Israel and the militant group Hamas.(Photo by Saher Alghorra/AFP/Middle East Images/AFP/Getty Images)
"What kind of life is this? The dire conditions in southern Gaza are becoming increasingly cramped," Lee stated. "Their skulls are still in the process of forming, and their underdeveloped muscles provide less protection, making them more susceptible to organ damage from blasts, even when there is no visible damage. We urgently need a definitive ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and medicine."
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have consistently stated that they do not target civilians, and have accused Hamas of using civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, as shields for their attacks on Israel.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, at least 22,835 Palestinians have been killed and 58,416 others injured in Gaza since October 7.
CNN cannot confirm the figures released by the ministry on its own. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, nearly 90% of Gaza's population, which exceeds 2 million, has been forcefully displaced as a result of Israel's conflict with Hamas.
Deadly cycle
The UNs childrens agency has also warned of a triple threat to children in Gaza - not just the danger of raging conflict, but also of malnutrition and disease.
UNICEF reported a 2,000% increase in diarrhea cases among children under 5 since the onset of the war, suggesting a rapid decline in child health in the Gaza Strip.
According to the report, 90% of children under the age of 2 are currently experiencing "severe food poverty," which is an increase from 80% reported just two weeks ago.
UNICEF has issued a warning that the combination of malnutrition and disease can create a deadly cycle, especially for displaced families who are facing poor hygiene conditions and lack access to safe water and plumbing.
In Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, displaced Palestinians are seen lining up to receive food donations on November 30, 2023. An agreement has been reached by the conflicting parties to extend the ceasefire, allowing time for Hamas to release more Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP) (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)
Mohammed Abed/AFP/Getty Images
Famine in Gaza around the corner, as people face highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded, UN relief chief says
Last Friday, Martin Griffiths, the UN's top emergency relief official, cautioned that famine is imminent for the people of Gaza as they experience the "highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded." A looming public health crisis is also occurring as overflowing sewers and the spread of infectious diseases in overcrowded shelters are detailed in a report released by the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Approximately 180 Palestinian women are giving birth each day in the midst of this chaos," he noted.
"Gaza has essentially become unlivable. Its residents face daily threats to their survival while the rest of the world looks on," Griffiths stated.
