A recent study reveals that the war in Gaza has slashed the average life expectancy by 35 years bringing it down to just 40.5 years. The devastating impact of the conflict combined with the collapse of Gaza’s health system has contributed to this alarming decline.

Drastic Decline in Life Expectancy

Published in ‘The Lancet’ the study highlights how life expectancy in Gaza dropped from 75.5 years in October 2023 to 40.5 years by September 2024. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania analysed data on war-related deaths to arrive at these findings.

Underreported Impact

The study primarily used casualty data from war injuries which may underestimate the overall toll. The researchers noted that many deaths caused by indirect factors such as the collapse of healthcare services were not included.

“Life expectancy in Gaza has nearly halved due to the war with indirect effects likely making the true impact even worse,” the authors explained.

Child and Women Casualties Dominate

The UN confirmed that 44% of deaths between November 2023 and April 2024 were children while 26% were women. The most affected age group was children aged 5-9 years. Over 80% of the casualties occurred in residential buildings highlighting the severe impact on civilians.

Casualty Verification

Gaza’s health authorities reported 47,000 deaths during the first year of the war. These figures were cross referenced with UN refugee and census data for accuracy. The UN also verified the identities of over 8,100 individuals killed in the conflict.

“Our evaluation found no significant errors or intentional inflation in Gaza’s reported casualty data,” the study noted.

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True Numbers Likely Higher

Another study published in ‘The Lancet’ earlier this month estimated that the official death toll might be underestimated by as much as 40%. The indirect effects of the war such as a lack of medical care, food shortages and damaged infrastructure remain unquantified but are expected to have a significant impact on mortality.

The ongoing war in Gaza has had devastating consequences on life expectancy with both direct and indirect factors taking a severe toll. These findings emphasize the urgent need for a resolution to prevent further loss of life and suffering.