Injured and Disabled in Gaza... From the Margins to the Heart of the Catastrophe
Prepared by: Ibrahim Jihad Al-Arja
The suffering of people with disabilities in the Gaza Strip did not begin with the recent war, but it reached an unprecedented level during it. Before the war, people with disabilities lived in a difficult reality; high unemployment, limited rehabilitation services, a shortage of assistive devices, and a long blockade that made their most basic human rights a daily battle. Nevertheless, their numbers remained within what was known as the most vulnerable groups in society.
Then the war came...
In just a few months, disability was no longer an issue for a specific group, but rather turned into a collective tragedy. Thousands of injured individuals emerged from the rubble with amputated limbs, spinal injuries, or loss of sight or hearing, while those with pre-existing disabilities found themselves in harsher conditions with the collapse of the health system and the cessation of most rehabilitation services. Estimates from the World Health Organization indicate that tens of thousands sustained injuries that will change their lives, and that thousands of people experienced amputations, at a time when rehabilitation services became unable to meet the increasing needs.
Before the war... Silent Suffering
People with disabilities in Gaza faced daily challenges represented by weak job opportunities, difficulty accessing treatment and rehabilitation, and delays in providing wheelchairs, prosthetics, and assistive devices. Despite the existence of institutions working in this field, the resources were limited compared to the scale of needs, which led many to live on the margins of economic and social life.
The war... A Factory of Disability
The war was not just a wave of injuries; it produced a new reality. A child lost his legs. A mother lost her sight. A young man suffered permanent paralysis. And a man emerged from the rubble with a disability that will accompany him for the rest of his life. According to estimates from the World Health Organization, about a quarter of the injuries recorded since the war began are life-changing injuries that require long-term treatment and rehabilitation, while the actual need far exceeds the current capabilities of the health sector.
Collapse of the Rehabilitation System
The crisis did not stop at the injury. With hospitals and rehabilitation centers damaged, and a shortage of staff and equipment, thousands of injured individuals face the risk of treatable injuries turning into permanent disabilities due to delays in surgeries or the absence of rehabilitation programs. Gaza also suffers from a significant shortage of prosthetics, wheelchairs, and essential rehabilitation supplies.
Medical Referrals... A Journey of Waiting
For many injured individuals, the battle is no longer just inside the operating room, but has extended to a long journey of waiting to obtain a medical referral or an opportunity for treatment outside the Gaza Strip. Patients and injured individuals repeatedly complain about the long wait times and ambiguity in procedures, which drives increasing demands for more transparency and fairness in managing this file, especially for cases that require urgent interventions not available within Gaza.
After the Injury... Another Battle
Disability does not end when the patient leaves the hospital. It begins there. Loss of income. Cessation of studies. The need for a prosthetic limb. Physical therapy sessions that may extend for years. Psychological support that is almost absent. And an entire family enters a new circle of suffering.
Where is the Responsibility?
Human rights activists and organizations working in the humanitarian field believe that what injured individuals and people with disabilities need today goes beyond emergency assistance, to include a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, provision of assistive devices, expansion of treatment opportunities inside and outside Gaza, and ensuring access to services without discrimination or unjustified delays. Calls are also increasing for clear data on the numbers of injured individuals and people with disabilities and their needs, and for transparent policies that ensure services reach those entitled to them.
An Undeniable Truth
Before the war, people with disabilities were demanding their rights. After the war, the whole community began to discover the extent of that suffering, after thousands of injured individuals joined this group in a short period. What injured individuals and people with disabilities face in Gaza is no longer just a health challenge, but a humanitarian, developmental, and rights issue whose effects will last for decades. The question that imposes itself remains: Will efforts stop at treating the injured, or will a real phase begin to rebuild their lives, protect their right to treatment, rehabilitation, and dignity?
