Attachments
overview
Israeli airstrikes, ground attacks and the blockade of Gaza following the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023 have disproportionately affected people with disabilities. These attacks expose people with disabilities to a range of protection risks, particularly separation from primary caregivers and assistive devices, preventing them from evacuating and finding safe shelter, and facing additional challenges in accessing water, food and medicines (OHCHR 20 November 2023; HRW 1 November 2023).
People with disabilities are considered more vulnerable to the effects of conflict because they have less access to safety and humanitarian assistance than many other people, which puts them at increased risk of serious injury, death, sexual assault and other harm (HRW, 1 November 2023). Protracted armed conflicts disproportionately affect people with disabilities.
Latest developments in the Gaza Strip
Since February 2, 2024, Israeli forces have been attacking the city of Rafah, the last refuge at the southern end of the Gaza Strip, where more than 2 million displaced people have been displaced since the city was designated a “safe zone”. Rafah is the only city that receives the limited food and medical aid that trickles through the border. Between February 2 and 4, 2024, overnight bombardments in the city reportedly killed more than 234 people, mostly women and children (The Guardian, February 4, 2024; France 24, February 3, 2024; UNOCHA, February 4, 2024). On February 12, Israeli airstrikes targeting different areas of Rafah city reportedly killed between 67 and 100 people (Al Jazeera, February 12, 2024). The recent attacks have people fearing they will either die or have to cross the border into Egypt, where human movement is currently banned (VOA February 2, 2024; Reuters February 2, 2024).
One of the critical infrastructure facilities attacked on February 2 was Al Amal Hospital in Khan Yunis. As of February 6, approximately 100 people, including elderly patients and people with disabilities who are unable to move, are stranded in the hospital (United Nations, February 6, 2024). Humanitarian aid is likely to decrease as interventions by Israeli forces and humanitarian staff are hindered or delayed, and threats to security on the ground increase (UNOCHA, February 5, 2024).
Key Messages
• As of 12 February 2024, the Ministry of Health reported that at least 28,400 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have been killed and approximately 68,000 injured as a result of attacks (OCHA 12 February 2024).
Some estimate that more than 5,000 Palestinians are injured and living with disabilities, a figure that is expected to increase significantly as the conflict continues (OCHA 1 July 2024;
EMM 07/12/2023).
• The exact number of people with disabilities is unknown, but before October 7, 21% of households in the Gaza Strip had at least one person with a disability. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), the number was approximately 58,000 (PCBS December 3, 2023; OCHA/REACH September 7, 2022). It is estimated that more than 1,000 children have lost limbs in the Gaza Strip since October 7, which equates to roughly 10 children losing limbs every day (Al Jazeera February 1, 2024; STC January 7, 2024).
• On 13 October 2023, the Israeli army instructed all civilians in northern Gaza to evacuate to the south, without taking into account the special needs of people with disabilities (HRW 01/11/2023). These people face barriers to fleeing, finding safe places to stay, and accessing basic needs such as water, food and medicine. They are in desperate need of assistive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers and hearing aids (HRW 01/11/2023; ICRC 11/2022; Rotenberg et al. 10/01/2024; OCHA/REACH 07/09/2022).
• Frequent forcible displacement of people, volunteers and humanitarian staff makes it difficult to provide services to those in need and to follow up on services. Even for organisations that are able to identify those in need, there is usually not enough time to prepare and provide assistance before people are forcibly displaced again (KII 8 February 2024).
• People with disabilities are at higher protection risks and are more likely to be at risk of death or injury in unsecured areas as they face physical or cognitive challenges in identifying attacks or fleeing, and they also face barriers to accessing information (KII 6 February 2024; HRW 1 November 2023).
• Since October 7, the Israeli army has ignored human rights treaties protecting people with disabilities in armed conflict. The Israeli army has established “safe zones,” but access to these areas is inconsistent and information about evacuations and safe zones has not been communicated to people with disabilities inclusively.
These areas are also under attack and lack basic services regardless of their designation (Arab News, January 21, 2024; PBS, December 7, 2023).
• Lack of comprehensive humanitarian assistance, including shelter, food, water and medical assistance, severely impacts the physical and mental health status of persons with disabilities (Diakonia IHL Centre, 12 March 2021; PCBS, 12 March 2023; HI, 11 March 2023).