21,000 Gaza children disabled amid war
A UN committee says at least 21,000 children in Gaza have been left disabled since October 2023.
A United Nations review finds that at least 21,000 children in Gaza have been disabled during nearly two years of war, as medical supply blockages, repeated mass displacement and a confirmed famine deepen the crisis for people with disabilities. The committee called for “massive humanitarian aid” and disability-inclusive evacuations, saying current measures are failing the most vulnerable.
A surge in life-altering injuries
The UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) reported that 40,500 children have suffered new war-related injuries, more than half resulting in disability. The committee urged Israel to adopt specific protections for children with disabilities during attacks and evacuations, and asked authorities in Gaza to ensure appropriate care.
“People with disabilities faced severe disruptions in assistance, leaving many without food, clean water, or sanitation and dependent on others for survival,” the committee said, adding that evacuation orders were often inaccessible to people with hearing or visual impairments.
Famine compounds the crisis
Famine (IPC Phase 5) has been officially confirmed in Gaza Governorate, with emergency conditions projected to spread. Humanitarian analysts estimate that 132,000 children under five are at risk of death from acute malnutrition by June 2026, and tens of thousands of pregnant and breastfeeding women urgently need nutrition support.
‘Dual-use’ restrictions block medical aids
Aid agencies and rights experts say restrictions on items deemed “dual-use” have prevented the entry of wheelchairs, prosthetic and orthotic materials, hearing devices and other assistive equipment—directly affecting evacuation and recovery for injured children. A UN document and rights submissions describe these limits as a major barrier for people with disabilities trying to flee or access care.
Aid access: from hundreds of points to a handful
Researchers and humanitarian monitors note that a privately backed distribution scheme has operated only a few fortified hubs in Gaza, replacing a UN network that previously ran roughly 400 points—raising access and safety concerns for people with limited mobility. Reports have also documented shootings at or near aid lines, deterring disabled people from seeking assistance.
Evacuations and repeated displacement
As Israeli operations have pushed civilians south, many families—especially those caring for children with disabilities—say they cannot move safely or repeatedly. Recent field reporting describes prohibitive costs, the loss of mobility aids under rubble, and dangerous journeys to overcrowded areas such as Mawasi. “Reports also described people with disabilities being forced to flee in unsafe and undignified conditions,” the UN committee noted