On September 3, 2025, the United Nations sounded a grave alarm over the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, revealing that at least 21,000 children have been left disabled since the Israeli military began its ground offensive in October 2023. The findings, published by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, paint a harrowing picture of the war’s toll on Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable residents, as well as the immense challenges now facing all people with disabilities in the region.
According to the UN committee, approximately 40,500 children in Gaza have suffered new war-related injuries in the nearly two years since the conflict erupted between Israel and Hamas. More than half of these children have been left with lifelong disabilities. The committee’s report, cited by AFP and other international outlets, underscores the disproportionate suffering endured by disabled Gazans, who face unique barriers to survival and recovery in an environment devastated by warfare and deprivation.
The report highlights that Israeli evacuation orders—often issued ahead of military strikes—have been largely inaccessible to people with hearing or visual impairments. This has rendered evacuation “impossible” for many, trapping them in harm’s way. Committee member Muhannad Al-Azzeh, speaking at a news conference, recounted the tragic story of a deaf mother in Rafah who was killed alongside her children because she was unaware of the instructions to evacuate. “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 said, as quoted by AFP.
Even when evacuation is possible, the journey is fraught with danger and indignity. The UN report describes how people with disabilities have been forced to move through rubble-strewn streets, often crawling on the ground, as mobility aids like wheelchairs and crutches have been lost or destroyed in the chaos. The destruction of public transportation and the death of donkeys—commonly used by Gazans for mobility—have further limited options for those unable to walk unaided.
Access to humanitarian aid has become another major hurdle. Before the recent changes, the UN managed a network of about 400 aid distribution points across Gaza, making assistance relatively accessible. However, the system has now been centralized under the private Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a body backed by Israel and the United States, which operates just four distribution points. This drastic reduction has made it nearly impossible for children and adults with disabilities to reach the help they desperately need. “We can’t expect children with disabilities... to be able to run and go to the (aid) points,” said Al-Azzeh, emphasizing the urgent need for aid to be delivered directly to those most at risk.
The committee warned that Israel’s restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip have had a disproportionately severe impact on disabled people. Many are now left without food, clean water, or sanitation and are forced to rely on others for survival. The report notes that physical obstacles such as war debris and the loss of mobility aids under the rubble have further prevented people from reaching the limited aid points. In a particularly stark statistic, the committee found that 83 percent of disabled people in Gaza have lost their assistive devices, such as hearing aids, walkers, and wheelchairs. Most cannot afford alternatives—donkey carts, for example, are now out of reach for many families.
The situation is compounded by Israeli authorities’ classification of mobility devices—wheelchairs, walkers, canes, splints, and prosthetics—as “dual-use items.” This designation, intended to prevent the import of goods that could have military applications, means these crucial aids are excluded from humanitarian shipments. The UN committee voiced deep concern over this policy, stressing that the lack of mobility devices leaves thousands stranded and dependent on others for even the most basic tasks of daily life.
Beyond immediate physical needs, the psychological toll on disabled children and their families is immense. The report details how many have been forced to flee their homes in terror, often separated from loved ones or left behind due to their inability to keep up during chaotic evacuations. The lack of specialized support and trauma care only deepens their suffering.
From October 7, 2023, to August 21, 2025, the committee recorded at least 157,114 people in Gaza sustaining injuries, with over 25 percent at risk of life-long impairments. The scale of devastation has overwhelmed local health systems, making rehabilitation and long-term care all but impossible for most.
In response to these findings, the UN committee has issued a series of urgent recommendations. It called for the immediate delivery of “massive humanitarian aid to persons with disabilities” affected by the war, including not just food and water, but also mobility aids, hearing devices, and other essential equipment. The committee also urged Israel to adopt specific measures to protect children with disabilities from attacks and to implement evacuation protocols that take into account the needs of persons with disabilities. “Israel must ensure disabled people are allowed to return safely to their homes and are assisted in doing so,” the committee added.
The committee’s recommendations extend to the broader international community, urging humanitarian organizations to prioritize outreach to disabled children and adults. “This is why one of our main recommendations is that children with disabilities must be reached out to,” said Al-Azzeh, underscoring the need for tailored aid distribution strategies that do not leave the most vulnerable behind.
The situation in Gaza remains fluid and fraught with uncertainty. As the war grinds on, the number of children and adults with permanent injuries is expected to rise, placing even greater strain on already depleted resources. The United Nations and its partners continue to press for greater access and protections for disabled Gazans, but progress has been slow amid ongoing hostilities and political complexities.
For thousands of children now living with disabilities, the challenges ahead are daunting. Yet, as the UN committee’s report makes clear, their needs cannot wait. The world’s attention—and its humanitarian efforts—must not overlook those who have suffered the most and who now face a lifetime of obstacles in the aftermath of war.