The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in at least 21,000 children in Gaza becoming disabled since the war began on October 7, 2023, according to a United Nations committee. On Wednesday, the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reported that approximately 40,500 children have sustained new war-related injuries during the nearly two-year conflict, with more than half of these injuries leading to disabilities.

The committee highlighted that Israeli evacuation orders issued during military operations in Gaza were often not accessible to individuals with hearing or visual impairments, making evacuation difficult. "Reports also described people with disabilities being forced to flee in unsafe and undignified conditions, such as crawling through sand or mud without mobility assistance," the committee stated.

Additionally, the committee noted that restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip have disproportionately affected disabled individuals. Many have faced significant disruptions in assistance, leaving them without food, clean water, or sanitation, and reliant on others for survival.

While the private US and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation operates four distribution points in the region, the UN system it replaced had around 400. Physical barriers, including debris from the conflict and the loss of mobility aids, have hindered access to these new aid locations.

The committee also expressed concern over the loss of assistive devices among disabled individuals, stating that 83 percent had lost their mobility aids, with most unable to afford replacements. Items such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, splints, and prosthetics are classified as "dual-use items" by Israeli authorities, which has led to their exclusion from aid shipments.

The committee called for a significant increase in humanitarian aid for persons with disabilities affected by the conflict. It urged all parties involved to implement protective measures to prevent further violence and deprivation of rights for disabled individuals.

From October 7, 2023, to August 21, 2024, the committee reported that at least 157,114 people have sustained injuries, with over 25 percent at risk of lifelong impairments. It reiterated that there are at least 21,000 children in Gaza who have acquired disabilities since the onset of the war. The committee urged Israel to adopt specific measures to protect children with disabilities from attacks and to ensure that evacuation protocols consider the needs of disabled persons. Furthermore, it called for the safe return of disabled individuals to their homes, with appropriate assistance.