Ramallah – Ma’an – The Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities Sector in the Palestinian NGO Network warned of the serious repercussions of the escalating and continuing Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip on the reality and lives of persons with disabilities, in light of the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe at all levels.
The sector indicated in a statement, issued today, Saturday, that hundreds of people with disabilities were martyred, thousands of them were injured, and ten thousand citizens were injured with various disabilities as a result of the Israeli aggression, in addition to the displacement of tens of thousands of people with disabilities and their exposure to difficult conditions of displacement, in addition to The difficult psychological traumas they are exposed to.
He stressed that the occupation’s destruction of infrastructure and main roads, and the destruction of accommodations and the headquarters of organizations working in the field of rehabilitation, caused a limitation in
the ability of people with disabilities to move and access services, and thus limit the opportunities for movement and evacuation, which exposed and is exposing their lives to extreme danger, in addition to their loss of their tools. Assistance, because they had to leave their aids behind due to the bombing.
He added that the lives of persons with disabilities are at risk due to the severe shortage of water, food, energy, medicines, medical and rehabilitation treatment. With regard to displacement, many persons with disabilities face great difficulties in overcrowded and inadequate shelters for the displaced, which do not provide the requirements for inclusion, which doubles the difficulty of obtaining humanitarian assistance, using bathrooms, and other essential needs and requirements.
He explained that persons with disabilities are exposed, like other Palestinian citizens, to the crimes of the occupation, but their impact is doubled on them, as the lack of inclusion components in the surrounding environme
nt or the destruction of these components due to the occupation or the destruction of their support tools reduces their chances of survival, as it hinders their ability to evacuate and reach health facilities and shelters. The comprehensive siege and closure of humanitarian crossings also prevents them from obtaining the periodic medications and special foods they need, in addition to rehabilitation services and others.
He stressed that the lack of adaptation of shelter centers, in addition to overcrowding, represents an additional problem that limits the access of persons with disabilities to the few available services, as persons with disabilities suffer more than others from malnutrition, which exposes them to chronic diseases and the possibility of death.
He stressed that women with disabilities face double challenges during the war, especially with the lack of health supplies for them as women with disabilities, in addition to the severe shortage of inclusion requirements, severe overcrowding inside sh
elters, the presence of some women in tents on the sand, and their need to access bathrooms, most of which are not suitable. In addition, women with disabilities face difficulties related to obtaining food, medicine, health and rehabilitation follow-ups, which may greatly affect their health status, and as a result of overcrowding and lack of privacy, they are also vulnerable to violations and violence, which exacerbates their psychological conditions.
The Rehabilitation Sector pointed out that the significant increase in the number of disabilities caused by the war, which is close to ten thousand cases of disability, half of which are children, at a time when the occupation prevents the entry of assistive devices and medical supplies, and prevents them from traveling abroad for treatment in light of the destruction of the health infrastructure and the destruction of most health facilities, hospitals and rehabilitation centers, is likely to put their lives at risk.
The Disability Rehabilitation Sector calle
d for the importance of providing urgent protection for persons with disabilities, and condemned the crimes committed by the occupation against our Palestinian people in all the occupied Palestinian territories, and in particular the massacres and deliberate genocide it is committing against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.
He also called for accelerating the provision of the special needs of persons with disabilities, including assistive devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, hearing aids, white canes for the visually impaired, medical mattresses, and others, and supporting institutions working in the field of rehabilitating persons with disabilities, and enhancing their ability to respond to their needs.
Source: Maan News Agency