At least 21,000 children in Gaza have become disabled since the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023, according to a report from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The committee noted that approximately 40,500 children have experienced “new war-related injuries” in the nearly two years since the hostilities began, with more than half resulting in permanent disabilities.
In its review of the situation in the Palestinian territories, the UN committee criticized Israeli evacuation orders during military operations in Gaza, stating they were “often inaccessible” to individuals with hearing or visual impairments. This situation has effectively rendered evacuation efforts impossible for many. The committee highlighted troubling reports of people with disabilities being forced to flee under hazardous conditions, including crawling through sand or mud without mobility assistance.
The UN has urged Israel to implement tailored evacuation protocols specifically for children. This recommendation emphasizes the necessity of ensuring safe and dignified escape routes for vulnerable populations.
Humanitarian Aid Challenges
The committee also addressed the severe restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, which disproportionately affect disabled individuals. Many have faced significant disruptions in essential services, leaving them without food, clean water, or adequate sanitation and reliant on others for survival.
While the private Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, supported by the US and Israel, has established four distribution points, the former UN system had approximately 400. Physical barriers, including debris from ongoing military actions and the destruction of mobility aids, have further hindered access to these new aid points.
A particularly distressing image of a malnourished one-year-old boy has drawn international attention, underscoring the complexities of reporting from Gaza, where health conditions are dire. The UN committee reported that 83 percent of disabled individuals have lost their assistive devices. For many, alternatives, such as donkey carts, are financially out of reach.
The committee also expressed concern over the classification of essential devices like wheelchairs and prosthetics as “dual-use items” by Israeli authorities, which has resulted in their exclusion from aid shipments.
Call for Immediate Action
In light of these alarming findings, the UN committee has called for the provision of “massive humanitarian aid” to individuals with disabilities affected by the conflict. It also stressed that all parties involved must adopt protective measures to prevent further violence, harm, and deprivation of rights for these vulnerable populations.
According to the committee, at least 157,114 people have sustained injuries since the conflict began, with over 25 percent at risk of lifelong impairments. The report reiterates that there are currently “at least 21,000 children with disabilities in Gaza” due to war-related injuries acquired since October 7, 2023.
The UN has called on Israel to implement specific measures to protect children with disabilities from attacks and to ensure that they can return safely to their homes with the necessary support.
