(Ramallah): Under the patronage of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Taawon, Munib & Angela Masri Foundation, and the Global Health Institute at the American University of Beirut (AUB GHI), have launched a national initiative, to rebuild Gaza’s rehabilitation sector.
This initiative is grounded in a recently published joint report that revealed an unprecedented collapse of rehabilitation services in Gaza. The findings reflect the devastating impact of the ongoing aggression, which has left widespread destruction across the health infrastructure and a staggering number of injuries. As of September 2025, more than 170,000 people have been injured, with at least one-quarter expected to require medium- to long-term rehabilitation care. Gaza strip now records the world’s highest per capita rate of child amputations, underscoring the depth of the health and humanitarian catastrophe.
Dr. Maged Abu Ramadan, Palestinian Minister of Health, stated: “The Ministry reaffirms its commitment to leading unified national efforts to rebuild a rehabilitation system capable of meeting the needs of the injured and ensuring their right to sustainable care and rehabilitation services. We call on all actors and supporters in the health sector, both locally and internationally, to unite their efforts within a comprehensive national framework guided by a clear plan and effective partnerships.”
The report adopts a framework based on the WHO’s Health System Building Blocks, encompassing service delivery, financing, health workforce, technology, and governance. It reveals an alarming shortage of both human resources and equipment, with only eight prosthetists currently active in Gaza and operating under extremely limited capacity. Furthermore, more than two-thirds of pre-war rehabilitation facilities have been destroyed or rendered non-functional.
The partner organizations affirmed that this initiative represents a national framework aimed at ensuring the continuity of rehabilitation services, unifying efforts, and directing funding toward the most urgent priorities; including the provision of prosthetics for children and support to local rehabilitation centers to restore their service capacity.
In collaboration with its partners, the Ministry of Health is preparing to convene a series of technical meetings over the coming months to define implementation mechanisms, delineate roles and responsibilities, and develop a detailed work plan for the first phase. An international mobilization and fundraising campaign will also be launched to support the dedicated fund for amputee rehabilitation and the reconstruction of Gaza’s rehabilitation system toward sustainable recovery.
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Taawon
Taawon is a leading Palestinian nonprofit organization established in 1983, dedicated to advancing education, culture, community development, and humanitarian relief to empower Palestinian communities and preserve their identity in Palestine and the refugee camps of Lebanon.
Munib & Angela Masri Foundation
Munib & Angela Masri Foundation is an independent, non-profit philanthropic organization established in 1970 under the vision and leadership of Munib R. Masri and his wife, Angela K. Masri. The Foundation is dedicated to advancing education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and culture, ensuring that all individuals can realize their fundamental right to live with dignity and actively participate in all spheres of life.
The Global Health Institute at the American University of Beirut
The Global Health Institute is an academic institute established in 2017 at the American University of Beirut dedicated to addressing global health challenges through research, policy, and advocacy, promoting context-driven and locally led solutions.
· Read the full report: Rebuilding Rehabilitation Services for Amputees in Gaza
· For correspondence related to this report or to participate in this initiative, please contact us at: [email protected]