Gaza Health Official Reports 225% Surge in Amputations Amid Gaza Conflict
According to the English section of webangah News Agency, quoting Palestinian Sama News Agency via Mehr News Agency, Dr.Ahmed Naim, Director General of Sheikh Hamad Rehabilitation and Prosthetics Hospital in Gaza, stated that the center treats about 200 patients daily across rehabilitation, prosthetics, hearing, and balance departments.
He added that as the outbreak of the war in october 2023, amputations in Gaza have increased by more than 225 percent-rising by over 4,500 new cases. before the conflict began, there were only around 2,000 total amputees. The current total number exceeds 6,500.
Naim explained that the hospital’s maximum annual production capacity for prosthetic limbs is about 150 units. At this rate and with current amputation levels, meeting demand would take over 20 years.
efforts are underway to boost production annually to between 400 and 500 units; though, Israel’s blockade blocks essential raw materials from entering.
He added that inaccurate initial amputation procedures sometimes require patients to undergo additional surgeries before they can be fitted with proper prosthetics.
The specialized staff is extremely limited but working at full capacity.The hospital is negotiating with support organizations to expand its technical team and increase workforce capability.
Separately, Munir Al-Barash, Director General of Gaza’s ministry of Health warned about a severe deterioration in healthcare conditions. He saeid: “The situation worsens daily as vulnerable groups near complete collapse.”
Al-Barash reported that 95 children have been diagnosed with acute flaccid myelitis and 45 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome have emerged.
He also noted a rising number of food and water poisonings while most medical laboratories have been destroyed by Israeli forces.
The director accused Israel of systematically targeting Gaza’s population through bombardments, starvation tactics under siege conditions, and various methods amounting to mass killing.
He further condemned air-dropped aid deliveries as humiliating measures that have even resulted in casualties among some recipients.
