Project leader of the rehabilitation project, Morten Eng, pictured working with a patient in Gaza, spring 2025.
Gaza rehabilitation project in planning
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has become one of today’s most severe humanitarian emergencies, affecting 2,2 million people. Over 57,000 have been reported killed and 137,000 injured (OCHA, July 2025). The World Health Organization estimates that 25% of these injuries require long-term rehabilitation. The death of more than 1,500 healthcare workers has added further strain to an already overwhelmed medical system (WHO, July 2025).
To meet the growing demand for specialized care, NORWAC, in collaboration with WHO and the Gaza Ministry of Health, is set to launch a new rehabilitation initiative. Between August 2025 and December 2026, eight Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) will be deployed to provide rehabilitation services, assistive devices, and essential medical equipment. Each multidisciplinary team, consisting of nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists, will serve in 3-week rotations, combining clinical work with supervision and capacity-building.
The teams will operate primarily in Gaza’s remaining public hospitals, working alongside national staff and fostering cross-departmental collaboration. Their focus is acute rehabilitation for patients with complex conflict-related injuries such as spinal cord trauma, head injuries, polytrauma, and amputations. By coordinating with intensive care, orthopedic, and neurosurgical departments, the initiative will strengthen rehabilitation practices from hospital admission through discharge.
To ensure continuity of care, the project also seeks to enhance rehabilitation after hospital discharge. This includes working with rehabilitation facilities and primary care clinics to establish referral pathways for complex cases. NORWAC will support professional development for staff at Gaza’s two main rehabilitation hospitals—Al-Amal Hospital and Al-Wafa Medical Rehabilitation and Specialized Surgery Hospital. The aim is to reduce life-threatening complications and foster greater independence and functional recovery among patients.
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Morten Eng
