The number of dead and wounded residents of the Gaza Strip since October 7 last year reached 5% of the population of the enclave. This is stated in the report of the United Nations Development Program entitled “The war in Gaza: Expected socio-economic consequences for the State of Palestine“.
"As of April 12, 2024, at least 33,207 people have been killed and about 7,000 reported missing in Gaza. Most of the dead - about 70% - were women and children. Another 80,683 Palestinians were injured, many of their injuries likely to cause long-term disability. According to these figures, as of October 7, 2023, about 5% of the population of Gaza had been killed or injured, some seriously. "No armed conflict in the 21st century has had such a devastating impact on the population in such a short period of time," the document said.
Its authors note that more than 1.7 million Palestinians, i.e. more than 75% of the enclave's population, have been forced to relocate in the sector, most of them facing this need several times . “Families still have to constantly move in search of safety. Most of the displaced people found shelter in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) shelters or in close proximity to UNRWA shelters. 1.2 million people are now in Rafah”, the report states.
In addition, due to the large number of casualties and the large-scale destruction of medical facilities, the war will seriously affect life expectancy, the United Nations Development Program is convinced. “Based on indicators from the 2014 war, it is estimated that life expectancy in the occupied Palestinian territories drops by four years after six months of war. Each additional month of war can reduce life expectancy by a year. If the war lasts nine months, then this figure will reach seven years”, say experts from the world organization.