Over 100,000 Palestinians in Gaza Suffer Long-Term Disabilities Amid Ongoing Conflict: UN Experts

GENEVA: United Nations experts have raised concerns over the dire conditions faced by Palestinians with disabilities in the Gaza Strip, as over 100,000 individuals suffer from long-term impairments requiring extensive rehabilitation. The experts highlighted the severe lack of essential services such as assistive devices, psychosocial support, and rehabilitation facilities. According to Emirates News Agency, Dr. Heba Hagrass, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, along with other UN human rights experts, issued a statement in Geneva. They emphasized the significant risks faced by people with disabilities in Gaza, including threats to their lives and enduring injuries, due to indiscriminate attacks by Israeli forces that have compromised vital infrastructure and restricted humanitarian aid. The experts criticized evacuation orders that failed to co nsider the needs of persons with disabilities, who often face challenges in understanding or acting on such instructions. They pointed out the impossible choice for these individuals between abandoning their homes and essential assistive devices or remaining without family support, increasing their risk of injury or death. Additionally, women and girls with disabilities were noted to be particularly vulnerable during evacuation efforts. The experts further highlighted the compounded difficulties due to physical, informational, and communication barriers, which severely limit access to the already scarce humanitarian aid. The international experts urged Israel to cooperate fully with international investigations and to ensure the preservation of evidence, especially concerning violations of the rights of persons with disabilities.