Nearly 6,000 Palestinians who have lost limbs during Israel’s devastating war are now in urgent need of long-term rehabilitation, said Gaza’s Health Ministry, warning that the scale of amputations is an “unprecedented humanitarian emergency.”

Marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the ministry said Wednesday that the situation is particularly tragic for children, who make up one in every four amputation cases. Thousands of young survivors are now facing permanent disabilities and a lifetime of physical, psychological, and social challenges.

Families across the enclave are “enduring deep humanitarian suffering,” the ministry noted, stressing that the needs of amputees far exceed the limited medical resources currently available amid the destruction of Gaza’s health system. It called for immediate and sustained interventions, including physical therapy, mental health support, and community reintegration programs.

The ministry urged international bodies to place Gaza’s amputees at the top of their humanitarian priorities and to expand access to specialized rehabilitation services.

The crisis echoes warnings issued earlier by UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini, who said in September that Gaza now has the highest per-capita rate of child amputees in the world as a result of Israel’s assault.

Since October 2023, Israel’s military onsalught has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and wounded over 171,000 others, leaving widespread destruction across the territory.