The long siege of Gaza has taken a drastic toll on children. According to reports, ever since the conflict between Israel and Hamas escalated on October 7, 2023, over 21,000 children have been disabled. All told, about 40,500 children have experienced severe, new war-related injuries during close to two years of conflict. This deeply disturbing statistic shows how severely the war has affected the youngest and most vulnerable members of society.
As the United Nations has made clear, the humanitarian situation is dire. They pointed out that over half the kids they’ve treated as injured children are left with permanent disabilities. The crisis deepens as a troubling number of critical assistive devices are damaged or destroyed. Indeed, 83 percent of disabled people have had their mobility aids—like prostheses and wheelchairs—destroyed or ruined. Most residents can’t afford these alternatives, donkey carts. This narrow set of options is forcing them to fight just to make it through every day.
Inaccessibility of Aid and Evacuation Protocols
The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has been very clear in condemning Israeli authorities. They condemned the designation of needed assistive devices as “dual-use items.” This outdated classification has led to these essential tools being barred from being included in aid shipments.
Evacuation orders sent at the outset of military offensives have been “inaccessible” to those with hearing or visual disabilities. This exclusion has made it next to impossible for these people to evacuate safely when the need arises.
“People with disabilities faced severe disruptions in assistance, leaving many without food, clean water, or sanitation and dependent on others for survival.” – AFP
The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities specifically called on Israel to prevent attacks on disabled children. They, too, work to make sure evacuation protocols take into account the needs of people with disabilities.
Recommendations for Better Protection
The latest reports indicate that from October 7, 2023, until August 21, 2023, at least 157,114 people sustained injuries as a direct result of the conflict. Of these injuries, more than a quarter are likely to result in permanent disabilities.
The Committee has listened to the urgencies expressed by these stark numbers. To address the deteriorating conditions for persons with disabilities in Gaza, they’ve provided a number of recommendations. They emphasize the need for Israel to ensure that disabled individuals are “allowed to return safely to their homes and are assisted in doing so.”
“At least 21,000 children with disabilities in Gaza as a result of impairments, acquired since October 7, 2023.” – AFP
The Humanitarian Response
Organizations such as the US and Israel backed private Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and the UN system have tried to help patch things up. Access to assistive devices continues to be a major obstacle. Temporary distribution points and humanitarian aid shipments have been set up, but barriers still prevent people from accessing aid from those who need it the most.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza escalates these days, so too have calls to act urgently to stop the violence and bloodshed. The UN Committee’s recommendations aim not only to protect individuals with disabilities but to ensure their fundamental rights are upheld amidst ongoing conflict.
