74,228 Killed and 175,188 Injured — Three Years of War Have Eroded Families’ Resilience and Deepened Dependence on Assistance
As the War on the Gaza Strip Marks Three Years and Enters Its Fourth Year, Ministry of Social Development Calls on the International Community to Intervene to Curb Widening Poverty, Displacement, and Growing Protection Needs in Gaza
Ramallah – The Ministry of Social Development stressed that, as the war on the Gaza Strip marks three years and enters its fourth year, its consequences can no longer be measured solely by the scale of destruction and human losses, but also by the profound changes it has caused in the lives of Palestinian families, including an unprecedented rise in poverty and displacement, loss of income sources, and growing protection and care needs, while the war continues and the burdens borne by the population continue to increase.
The latest data, as of 3 October, indicate that the number of people killed has risen to 74,228, while 175,188 people have been injured. These figures reflect only part of the accumulated human cost of the war and its consequences, including the loss of family breadwinners, family separation, and a growing number of people requiring social and psychological care and long-term rehabilitation.
The Ministry stressed that the situation of persons with disabilities and those injured represents one of the most significant long-term challenges. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 43,000 injured people have sustained potentially life-changing injuries, including approximately 10,000 children, while the number of amputations has exceeded 5,000, in addition to tens of thousands of injuries requiring ongoing rehabilitation and care services.
Older persons are also facing extremely difficult conditions. According to the latest data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, approximately 109,000 people aged 60 years and above were living in the Gaza Strip in mid-2026, amid repeated displacement and difficulties accessing medicines, care, and essential services. Many also live with chronic illnesses or limited mobility, further increasing their vulnerability during emergencies.
The Ministry stressed that three consecutive years of war have exhausted families’ ability to cope. Many have lost their homes, jobs, savings, and sources of income and have become increasingly dependent on assistance to secure food, medicines, and daily necessities. The latest food security projections indicate that more than 1.4 million people, approximately 67% of Gaza’s population, are expected to face Crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity through the end of the year, including approximately 212,000 people at Emergency level.
The Ministry emphasized that these conditions require the situation in Gaza to be addressed as a protracted social protection crisis rather than merely a temporary humanitarian emergency. This requires combining food and cash assistance with protection, psychosocial support, and care services, alongside education, economic empowerment, and the restoration of livelihoods, helping families regain a degree of stability and independence rather than remaining dependent on emergency assistance.
With winter approaching, the Ministry warned of increasing risks facing displaced families, many of whom have spent extended periods in tents and temporary shelters. It stressed the urgent need to accelerate the entry of shelter materials, tarpaulins, insulation materials, blankets, and winter clothing and to ensure that they reach the families most in need before weather conditions worsen.
The Ministry stressed that the continued entry of commercial goods does not compensate for the limited flow of humanitarian assistance, particularly amid the collapse in the purchasing power of thousands of families. It emphasized that the availability of goods in markets does not mean that families can afford them, and that continued humanitarian funding and expanded cash assistance are essential to protecting the most vulnerable groups.
The Ministry further emphasized that the National Social Registry serves as the primary reference for identifying families, their needs, and levels of vulnerability, while the Unified Social Assistance Portal provides a tool for organizing and coordinating interventions, reducing duplication, and ensuring that resources are directed to eligible beneficiaries in a more equitable and transparent manner.
The Ministry of Social Development called on the international community to provide sustainable and flexible funding for relief, protection, education, economic empowerment, and rehabilitation programmes, and to ensure the regular flow of humanitarian assistance and essential supplies. It stressed that, after three years of war, the response must move beyond managing daily needs towards protecting people and restoring their capacity to recover.
The Ministry concluded by stressing that the completion of three years of war does not make the situation in Gaza a normal reality. Rather, it reveals the scale of exhaustion affecting families and society and increases the responsibility to protect civilians and ensure their rights to food, housing, education, care, and a life of dignity.