10,000 Palestinians become disabled due to Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip

OCCUPIED AL-QUDS, JUN.29, (ST)- The Palestinian NGO’s Network Rehabilitation Sector has warned about the dire consequences of the ongoing and escalating Israeli aggression on Gaza. The group said an estimated 10,000 individuals have acquired various disabilities due to the attacks.

According to a statement released today, hundreds of persons with disabilities have been killed, and thousands more injured as a result of the Israeli onslaught. The crisis has forced tens of thousands of disabled individuals to flee, exposing them to harsh displacement conditions and severe psychological trauma, the group revealed.

The statement emphasized that Israeli actions, including the destruction of infrastructure, main roads, and rehabilitation centers, have severely restricted the movement and access to services for persons with disabilities. This has significantly diminished their ability to mobilize, evacuate safely, and has resulted in the loss of crucial assistive devices, abandoned in the face of bombardment.

Furthermore, the lives of persons with disabilities are endangered due to acute shortages of water, food, energy, medications, and medical and rehabilitation services. Displaced individuals with disabilities face immense difficulties in overcrowded and ill-equipped shelters lacking basic amenities, exacerbating their struggle to access humanitarian aid, sanitation facilities, and other essential needs.

The group underscored that the failure to accommodate disabled-friendly shelters, coupled with overcrowding, poses an additional challenge in accessing already scarce services. Persons with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition and chronic illnesses, significantly increasing their risk of mortality.

Source: WAFA

B.Q.