Geneva: More than 40,000 children in Gaza have sustained injuries related to the ongoing conflict over the past two years, with over half of them now living with disabilities, according to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
According to Jordan News Agency, the committee released a statement highlighting the plight of individuals with disabilities in the conflict zone. It revealed that many people with hearing or vision impairments have been unable to receive Israeli evacuation orders, rendering displacement "impossible" for them. The statement further described the dire conditions faced by disabled individuals forced to flee, often crawling through sand or mud without mobility assistance.
The committee's report emphasized that restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza have disproportionately affected people with disabilities. "Persons with disabilities face severe interruptions in assistance, leaving many without food, clean water, or hygiene and dependent on others to survive," it stated. The report also noted the challenges faced by disabled individuals in accessing aid concentrated at limited distribution points, making it extremely difficult for them to obtain much-needed relief.
The UN committee has called for substantial humanitarian assistance for persons with disabilities impacted by the conflict. It highlighted that between October 7, 2023, and August 21 of this year, 157,114 people were injured, with 25% of them at risk of lifelong disabilities.