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STORY: WHO / GAZA REHABILITATION NEEDS
TRT: 04:54
SOURCE: WHO
RESTRICTIONS: PLEASE CREDIT WHO ON SCREEN
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 12 SEPTEMBER 2024, GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE / FILE
FILE - 06 JULY 20024, PUBLIC AID HOSPITAL, GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE
1. Various shots, referral patient being escorted to the ambulance before being transferred onto a stretcher and loaded onto the ambulance
12 SEPTEMBER 2024, GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Richard Peeperkorn, Representative, Occupied Palestinian Territory, World Health Organization (WHO):
“WHO conducted an analysis that highlights the vast unmet rehabilitation needs in Gaza. The analysis focuses solely on the new injuries sustained since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023. So at least one quarter of those injured in Gaza and this is actually data to 23 July, are estimated to have life changing injuries. We speak about 22,500 people. They require rehabilitation services now and for years, for years to come. “
FILE - 13 APRIL 2024, AL-AHLI HOSPITAL, NORTH GAZA, GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE
3. Various shots, WHO team talking to a patient with external fixators on his leg
12 SEPTEMBER 2024, GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Richard Peeperkorn, Representative, Occupied Palestinian Territory, World Health Organization (WHO):
“The huge surge in rehabilitation needs occurs in parallel with the ongoing decimation or disintegration of the health system, which we reported on so frequently. Currently, only 17 of the 36 hospitals remain partially functional in Gaza, but the primary healthcare and community level services are frequently suspended or rendered inaccessible due to insecurity, attacks and repeated evacuation orders.”
FILE - 13 JULY 2024, Nasser Medical Complex, Khan Younis, GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE
5. Various shots, young patient lying on a bed, receiving physical therapy.
12 SEPTEMBER 2024, GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Richard Peeperkorn, Representative, Occupied Palestinian Territory, World Health Organization (WHO):
“In short, we urgently need assistance in this area of rehabilitation and should be a huge component when we talk, hopefully in the near future, about early recovery.”
FILE - 10 APRIL 2024, NASSER MEDICAL COMPLEX, KHAN YOUNIS, CENTRAL GAZA, GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE
7. Med shot, Dr Athanasios standing in front of the Limb Reconstruction Centre sign
8. Med shot, damage and destruction to the centre
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Athanasios Gargavanis, Trauma surgeon and Emergency Officer, World Health Organization (WHO):
“So, before the war, there were three designated physiotherapy and rehabilitation centres in Gaza that were responsible for the optimal follow-up of patients in need of rehabilitation and reconstruction. Right now, out of these three centres, none is operation, especially when it comes to limb reconstruction centre. Limb Reconstruction Centre is not the building itself. We would love to say that it's a building, but in reality, for a multidisciplinary approach. It's the people and the functions, and the disaster to the entire health system has caused the entire limb reconstruction centre to be non-functional. Walls are there, some beds are there not as full bed capacity, but under no circumstances can it serve its purpose.”
FILE - 05 SEPTEMBER 2024, JAPANESE CLINIC, UNRWA PRIMARY HEALTHCARE CENTRE, KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE
10. Various shots at the clinic showing families with their children, waiting to receive their polio vaccination, shots of children receiving their vaccination.
12 SEPTEMBER 2024, GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Richard Peeperkorn, Representative, Occupied Palestinian Territory, World Health Organization (WHO):
“We are, and I want to stress that very much, grateful that the area of specific humanitarian pauses have been respected during the campaign, and we urge for all parties to cease hostilities and work towards a ceasefire. So far in the north, we've reached 105,909 children under ten years of age in a middle area 195,722 and in the south. 250,820. This brings us now to a total number of children vaccinated as of yesterday of 552,451. Numbers for today are still awaited.”
FILE - 05 SEPTEMBER 2024, WATER SEWAGE WORKS, KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA STRIP, PALESTINE
12. Various shots, WHO team and partners testing sewage water: donning protective clothing, preparing equipment, lowering a bucket into sewage water before transferring the sample to a secure container for transit to the lab
At least one quarter or 22,500 of those injured in Gaza by 23 July are estimated to have life-changing injuries that require rehabilitation services now and for years to come, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) analysis of the types of injuries resulting from the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Richard Peeperkorn, Representative, Occupied Palestinian Territory, World Health Organization (WHO):
“WHO conducted an analysis that highlights the vast unmet rehabilitation needs in Gaza. The analysis focuses solely on the new injuries sustained since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023. So at least one quarter of those injured in Gaza and this is actually data to 23 July, are estimated to have life changing injuries. We speak about 22,500 people. They require rehabilitation services now and for years, for years to come.”
The analysis found that severe limb injuries, estimated to be between 13,455 to 17,550, are the main driver of the need for rehabilitation. Many of those injured have more than one injury. According to the report, between 3,105 and 4,050 limb amputations have also occurred.
SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Richard Peeperkorn, Representative, Occupied Palestinian Territory, World Health Organization (WHO):
“The huge surge in rehabilitation needs occurs in parallel with the ongoing decimation or disintegration of the health system, which we reported on so frequently. Currently, only 17 of the 36 hospitals remain partially functional in Gaza, but the primary healthcare and community level services are frequently suspended or rendered inaccessible due to insecurity, attacks and repeated evacuation orders.”
Large surges in spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and major burn injuries all contribute to the overall number of life-changing injuries, which includes many thousands of women and children.
SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Richard Peeperkorn, Representative, Occupied Palestinian Territory, World Health Organization (WHO):
“In short, we urgently need assistance in this area of rehabilitation and should be a huge component when we talk, hopefully in the near future, about early recovery.”
Currently, only 17 of 36 hospitals remain partially functional in Gaza, while primary health care and community-level services are frequently suspended or rendered inaccessible due to insecurity, attacks, and repeated evacuation orders. Gaza’s only limb reconstruction and rehabilitation centre, located in Nasser Medical Complex and supported by WHO, became non-functional in December 2023 due to lack of supplies and specialized health workers being forced to leave in search of safety, and was later left damaged following a raid in February 2024.
SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Athanasios Gargavanis, Trauma surgeon and Emergency Officer, World Health Organization (WHO):
“So, before the war, there were three designated physiotherapy and rehabilitation centres in Gaza that were responsible for the optimal follow-up of patients in need of rehabilitation and reconstruction. Right now, out of these three centres, none is operation, especially when it comes to limb reconstruction centre. Limb Reconstruction Centre is not the building itself. We would love to say that it's a building, but in reality, for a multidisciplinary approach. It's the people and the functions, and the disaster to the entire health system has caused the entire limb reconstruction centre to be non-functional. Walls are there, some beds are there not as full bed capacity, but under no circumstances can it serve its purpose.”
Tragically, much of the rehabilitation workforce in Gaza is now displaced. Reports indicate 39 physiotherapists have been killed as of 10 May. In-patient rehabilitation and prosthetic services are no longer available and the number of people with injuries requiring assistive products far exceeds the equipment available within Gaza. Partners report that stocks of essential assistive products such as wheelchairs and crutches have run out and it is difficult to replenish supplies due to the restricted flow of aid into Gaza.
SOUNDBITE (English) Dr Richard Peeperkorn, Representative, Occupied Palestinian Territory, World Health Organization (WHO):
“We are, and I want to stress that very much, grateful that the area of specific humanitarian pauses have been respected during the campaign, and we urge for all parties to cease hostilities and work towards a ceasefire. So far in the north, we've reached 105,909 children under ten years of age in a middle area 195,722 and in the south. 250,820. This brings us now to a total number of children vaccinated as of yesterday of 552,451. Numbers for today are still awaited.”
The analysis focuses solely on new injuries sustained since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023. However, tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza were already living with pre-existing chronic conditions and impairments before this, putting them at significant risk due to the lack of appropriate services.
The estimates in the analysis will be used by WHO and partners to plan for a surge in rehabilitation-related services and contribute to long-term health planning and policymaking.
Amidst the ongoing hostilities, it is critical to ensure access to all essential health services, including rehabilitation to prevent illness and death. WHO reiterates its call for a ceasefire, which is critical for rebuilding the health system to cope with escalating needs.
