The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has reported that the ongoing conflict in Gaza has left at least 21,000 children with disabilities since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on October 7, 2023.
“Over 40,000 children have been injured during the war over nearly two years, and more than half of them have been left with disabilities,” the UN committee stated.
Reviewing conditions in the Palestinian territories, the committee noted that Israeli evacuation orders during military offensives in Gaza were often “unreachable” for people with hearing or visual impairments, making evacuation impossible.
Committee member Muhannad Al-Azzeh cited the tragic case of a deaf mother in Rafah who was killed along with her children, unaware of the evacuation instructions.
“Reports also describe people with disabilities forced to flee in unsafe and inappropriate conditions, such as crawling through sand or mud without mobility assistance,” the committee said.
Restrictions on humanitarian aid in Gaza have disproportionately affected people with disabilities.
“People with disabilities faced severe disruptions in aid, leaving many without food, clean water, or sanitation, and dependent on others for survival,” the committee added.
