But for an increasing number of Palestinians, including those who cannot hear orders or whose mobility is altered, follow these orders may be impossible. However, not doing it could cost them their life.
“In a normal situation, people with disabilities suffer the most. And in wartime, of course, the situation is even more important, “said Muhannad Salah al-Azzeh, member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities during a public dialogue this week in Geneva.
The number of disabled people in Gaza increasing every day, Mr. Al-Azzeh said that the minimum safety level for people with disabilities was not maintained.
No replacement for broken hearing aid
More than 83% of people with disabilities in Gaza do not have the assistance devices they need, including wheelchairs, hearing aids and other tools. And for those who do it, the batteries that allow these devices to operate are very rare.
This makes it exponentially more difficult – if not impossible – for them to access health care and food.
This shortage comes in the middle of an increasing number of disabled people. The United Nations delegation and work agency in Palestine (UNRWA) estimates that in four Gazans has a new handicap following the war between Israeli forces and Hamas, which requires treatment and rehabilitation.
At least 35,000 people have “significant hearing damage” as a result of repeated explosions. And Ammar Dwaik, director general of the independent Palestinian human rights commission, said that On average, 15 children are newly disabled each day. According to certain rights groups, Gaza has the greatest number of children in modern history.
But with more than 134,000 people who have suffered conflict-related injuries-40,500 of which are children-the besieged and under-strengthered health system cannot follow.
“Hospitals, ambulances and medical and humanitarian staff have been systematically targetedWith more than 1,580 health workers and 467 humanitarian workers killed “,” UNRWA note.
Help out
The search for vital aid has become a very healthy perspective in Gaza. But for people with disabilities, is almost impossible, according to Hector Sharp, a representative of UNRWA at the Geneva meeting.
“Reach [the distribution points] And need to compete physically for this aid is difficult for all Palestinians, but even more for people with disabilities to whom Help is actually placed out of reach“Said Mr. Sharp.
The Gaza humanitarian fund, supported by the United States and Israel,, for example, has only a handful of distribution points throughout the Gaza Strip because it bypassing all the established United Nations and NGO operations, forcing people to travel long distances in the hope of receiving meager quantities of food.
If people with mobility disorders do not have families or friends ready to recover help for them, they can simply be unable to achieve itAccording to Mr. Al-Azzeh.
Key infrastructure destroyed
Since 1962, UNRWA has operated a rehabilitation center for visually impaired in the Gaza Strip. It was the only one and served more than 500 children at any time.
“” Today [the centre] is in the rubble“Said Mr. Sharp.
The destruction of other civil infrastructure throughout the strip – including schools and hospitals – hinders rehabilitation efforts for disabled people and further anchor societal exclusion.
UNRWA representative in Geneva noted the impact that closed schools will have on disabled children.
“For disabled children, the loss of inclusive education deepens systematic inequalities and presents them to an increased risk of social and economic exclusion for life,” he said.
Peace, the only answer
Despite the challenges, UNRWA has continued to provide services to disabled people, including more than 53,000 physiotherapy sessions and assistance or rehabilitation services for 8,500 people since the start of the year.
Tedros adhanom ghebreyesus, General manager of the World Health Organization (WHO), called on the Israeli authorities to allow more aidive devices and technologies for both people with existing handicaps and those who maintain new ones in the middle of the current conflict.
He also called on medical evacuations to be extended in order to allow disabled people to obtain specialized and specialized care. But ultimately, he said, the only lasting solution is to end the conflict.
“Peace is the only way to stop the suffering of Palestinians, including those who disabled.”
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
