Here’s the translation to American English:
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The constant evacuation orders issued by Israel in the Gaza Strip have created situations of extreme vulnerability for people with disabilities. This Wednesday, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities presented an alarming report on the conditions faced by those with mobility impairments in the occupied Palestinian territories. According to the report, forced evacuations have left these individuals without resources, fleeing under unsafe conditions, such as crawling through mud or sand, without the necessary assistance.
Committee experts noted that at least 21,000 children in Gaza have acquired disabilities since the onset of Israeli bombings and ground operations that began on October 7, 2023. According to their findings, approximately 40,500 children have sustained war-related injuries in less than two years, and more than half of them have been left disabled. The UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, estimates that over a thousand children have suffered amputations, and this number is expected to rise due to the escalation of the conflict.
The situation is equally dire in terms of mental health, as the World Health Organization estimates that between 480,000 and 485,000 individuals suffer from mental health issues or psychosocial disabilities, the majority of whom are children. The Committee emphasized the lack of medical care and essential equipment, which has led to the deaths of many children and elderly individuals with disabilities.
The report highlights the devastating effects of the lack of access to food, water, and humanitarian assistance, exacerbated by the blockade in the region. Disruptions in aid have left many individuals with disabilities at the mercy of others, increasing their suffering and marginalization. An alarming 83% of these individuals have lost their assistive devices, preventing them from accessing humanitarian aid.
The testimonies gathered in the report are heartbreaking. A 14-year-old girl with cerebral palsy, while fleeing from airstrikes, was forced to crawl and asked her parents to leave her behind to avoid putting the family at risk. Another case recounts how Abdulrahman Al Rabawi, a man with cerebral palsy, was carried by his family during thirteen evacuations, ultimately opting to stay in a damaged house under extreme overcrowded conditions.
In light of this crisis, the Committee made an urgent call to establish safe corridors and facilitate the evacuation of individuals with disabilities. They also urged Israel to allow unrestricted access to essential supplies and requested humanitarian organizations to adopt inclusive practices that ensure access for all individuals, especially women and girls with disabilities. Additionally, donors and international agencies must prioritize accessibility and inclusion in funding for reconstruction.
Referrer: MiMub in Spanish