UN Expert Reveals Gaza Now Has Highest Number of Amputee Children in Modern History

A senior United Nations official has reported that Gaza now has the highest amputee population of children in modern history. 

Lisa Doughten, director of the Financing and Partnerships Division at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), emphasized that women and children are among the hardest hit by the trauma of war, with ten children losing one or both legs each day. 

“Gaza is home to the largest cohort of child amputees in modern history,” Doughten said, adding that women there are three times more likely to miscarry or die from childbirth. 

She cautioned that ongoing, targeted assaults on the healthcare system have deprived over two million residents of the Gaza Strip of access to basic medical services, including more than 50,000 pregnant women now unable to receive necessary maternity care. 

"We cannot claim to be unaware of what is happening — nor can we afford to ignore it," Doughten emphasized, urging the Council and Member States to take action. "These atrocities must come to an end." 

Israel’s Explosive Weapons Inflict Lifelong Injuries on Gaza's Youth 

Children are particularly vulnerable to the devastating impact of explosive weapons. They face a higher risk of severe burns and are more likely to die from blast injuries compared to adults. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that many surgeries on children have been performed without anesthesia, as the ongoing war has devastated Gaza's healthcare system, leading to significant shortages of medical professionals and critical supplies, including anesthesia and antibiotics. 

In January, UNICEF reported that since October 7, more than 1,000 children have undergone amputations, losing one or both legs. 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres presented his annual report on children and armed conflict in June, known as the "list of shame." This year marked a pivotal moment, as the report recognized the Israeli armed forces for the first time as one of the parties involved in armed conflicts perpetrating "grave violations" against children. 

The report revealed that Israeli forces were accountable for 5,698 grave violations, including the killing and maiming of children, along with attacks on schools and hospitals during the 2023 calendar year. Palestinian armed groups were noted for committing 137 violations against children.

UNICEF highlighted that injuries from explosive weapons have profound psychological, educational, and social effects, as well as economic and environmental damage. This restricts children's access to vital services, including healthcare, education, and clean water. 

Humanity & Inclusion, an international organization dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities, reported in December that the primary types of injuries from explosive weapons in the region include traumatic amputations—where one or more limbs are partially or completely severed—as well as fractures, peripheral nerve injuries, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and burns. 

Unexploded ordnance poses a growing threat, especially to children. Humanity & Inclusion cautioned that while the full extent of explosive remnants in the Gaza Strip remains unclear, a “marked rise” is anticipated. This surge will “inevitably result in more loss of life, injuries, and lasting psychological scars for years to come.”