• 21,000 children in Gaza have been left disabled due to the ongoing war with Israel.
• 40,500 children have suffered injuries, with over half resulting in disabilities.
• Humanitarian aid restrictions are disproportionately impacting disabled individuals in Gaza.
• 83% of disabled people have lost assistive devices due to the conflict.
• Urgent calls for increased humanitarian assistance to those with disabilities have been made by the UN committee.

According to a recent report by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, at least 21,000 children in Gaza have been disabled since the war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023. The committee noted that approximately 40,500 children have suffered "new war-related injuries" during the conflict, resulting in disabilities for over half of them. The report highlights the alarming humanitarian crisis in the region, calling for massive aid for the disabled and measures to protect them from further harm.

The UN committee also emphasized that Israeli evacuation orders issued during military offensives have been inadequate, particularly for individuals with hearing or visual impairments, often making evacuation impossible. Reports have described individuals with disabilities fleeing in "unsafe and undignified conditions," indicating a significant lack of accessible support. Committee member Muhannad Al Azzeh pointed to tragic instances, such as a deaf mother in Rafah who was killed alongside her children, unaware of evacuation orders, according to Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, and TRT World.

Restrictions on humanitarian aid have further exacerbated the situation for people with disabilities, who are facing severe disruptions in receiving essential services such as food, clean water, and sanitation. The report indicates that while there have been shifts in aid distribution focused on a new private US- and Israel-backed foundation, the accessibility for disabled individuals has significantly decreased, with only four distribution points compared to the previous approximately 400. Mass shootings at these aid points make it challenging for disabled people to access the assistance they critically need, according to Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, and TRT World.

The committee reported that 83% of disabled individuals in Gaza have lost their assistive devices, further hindering their mobility and access to essential services. Many are unable to afford alternatives, which leaves them vulnerable while attempting to navigate the impacted region. The report raised concerns that necessary aids such as wheelchairs and prosthetics are classified as "dual-use items" by Israeli authorities, resulting in their exclusion from humanitarian shipments. The committee has urgently called for massive humanitarian aid and specific protective measures for children with disabilities, insisting that Israel ensure safe return and assistance for disabled individuals to their homes.