A 14-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, reliant on a wheelchair, was among many fleeing Israeli military aircraft operations near Rafah in Gaza on October 13, 2023. She lost her wheelchair amid the chaos, according to committee member Muhannad Salah Al-Azzeh, who presented a report on the Occupied Palestinian Territories in Geneva.
“She was crawling on the sand and told her family, ‘you can leave me here,’ as she felt she was holding them back,” he said.
Some individuals with disabilities remain unaware of evacuation orders in Gaza amid the ongoing war, initiated by a Hamas-led attack on Israel nearly two years ago.
“This is critical as personal disabilities are often sidelined in emergencies, complicating their situations,” he noted.
A woman in a wheelchair is shown being carried across debris.
States fail to protect rights of persons with disabilities
Following comprehensive interviews with individuals and organizations in Gaza and the West Bank, the UN committee presented serious concerns and recommendations to Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
The situation in Gaza is dire, Mr. Al-Azzeh emphasized.
“What’s happening there is deeply troubling,” he expressed. “State parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities have failed to protect and ensure the minimum safeguarding of persons with disabilities in these emergencies.”
He cited cases like prolonged power outages in Rafah, leaving a mother unable to receive evacuation notifications, resulting in her and her children’s deaths in an Israeli attack.
Nine-year-old Noor’s deaf parents have depended on her to navigate Israeli military threats. She has learned new sign language related to war, such as for tanks and aircraft, he stated.
Examples abound, such as Abdulrahman Al-Gharbawi with cerebral palsy. Each of the nine times his family was forcibly displaced, his mother carried his wheelchair while his father and brother carried him.
‘Horrific’ situation in Gaza City
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned of worsening catastrophes in Gaza City due to the ongoing offensive and famine, urging decisive global actions to prevent this.
“Escalating hostilities in Gaza City are causing dire humanitarian impacts, especially for the elderly and disabled,” the UN agency noted.
From August 14 to 31, over 82,000 new displacements occurred, with nearly 30,000 moving from north to south Gaza, OCHA reported.
Chronic aid delivery obstacles
Humanitarian efforts still face significant hurdles, with aid entering the war-torn Gaza Strip in limited quantities, according to OCHA’s current situation report.
From August 17 to 30, daily convoys brought over 6,900 metric tonnes of various foods into Gaza, but much was looted by crowds or organized groups, preventing appropriate distribution, OCHA highlighted.
Since July 20, less than 40% of the required daily food supplies have reached Gaza as regular shipments resumed, OCHA indicated.
“Civilians continue to suffer casualties from military actions or internal violence while trying to access aid,” reported the UN agency.
‘Two per cent of food aid reached warehouses’
As of August 30, 99 kitchens prepared 468,000 meals daily across Gaza, with partners relying on the 2% of aid that reached warehouses and local market resources, OCHA stated.
This is an 80% increase since early August but far less than the over one million meals produced in April, the agency noted.
Families and children are shown seeking food from a community kitchen in Gaza City.
Famine response
The UN and partners have continued integrated famine response initiatives following reports of famine conditions in parts of Gaza.
Efforts include scaling meal provision, supporting home gardening, expanding cash assistance, and strengthening monitoring systems.
“Advocacy continues with Israeli authorities to enhance humanitarian and commercial goods entry, prioritizing food and cooking gas,” OCHA reported.
Access to safe drinking water in Gaza is severely compromised due to ongoing conflict.
New supplies and critical shortages
For the first time in over five months, 60 metric tonnes of concentrated fodder reached 600 livestock holders in Deir Al-Balah, OCHA reported.
However, despite advocacy, cooking gas hasn’t entered Gaza in over five months, resulting in its market unavailability, the UN agency revealed.
“Firewood is becoming unaffordable, and many resort to using waste wood, raising health risks,” the agency stated.
Meanwhile, UNRWA health facilities serve around 132,000 patients with non-communicable diseases despite critical medical supply shortages. Insulin supplies will run out in one to two weeks, affecting 16,000 diabetic patients, OCHA noted.
Access to clean water is severely limited, hospitals lack essential supplies, and daily attacks increase casualties.
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