The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has raised alarm over the growing inaccessibility of humanitarian aid for disabled individuals in Gaza, especially children. The committee warned that recent changes in the aid distribution system have severely hampered access for some of the most vulnerable.
The decision to centralize aid distribution under the newly formed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by the United States and Israel, has significantly reduced the number of aid points across the territory. While the previous UN-run system operated around 400 distribution points, the new foundation runs only four, according to the committee.
“We can’t expect children with disabilities… to be able to run and go to the (aid) points,” said Muhannad Al-Azzeh, a member of the UN committee. He emphasized that disabled children must be prioritized in aid efforts. “This is why one of our main recommendations is that children with disabilities must be reached out to,” he added.
Physical barriers are compounding the problem. War debris, destroyed infrastructure, and the loss of mobility aids—many of which were buried under rubble—have made it nearly impossible for disabled individuals to access the centralized aid locations. According to the committee, 83 percent of disabled people in Gaza have lost their assistive devices, and most cannot afford replacements, even simple alternatives like donkey carts.
The situation is further complicated by Israeli restrictions on aid shipments. Devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, canes, splints, and prosthetics are classified as “dual-use items” by Israeli authorities, meaning they can be considered military-sensitive and are therefore frequently excluded from humanitarian deliveries.
Calling the situation urgent, the committee demanded the delivery of massive humanitarian aid specifically for persons with disabilities impacted by the conflict.
Citing data collected between October 7, 2023, and August 21, 2025, the committee reported at least 157,114 people injured in Gaza, with more than 25 percent at risk of permanent disability. Among them are at least 21,000 children who have acquired disabilities due to the war.
The UN body also urged Israel to adopt specific protections for children with disabilities, including the development of inclusive evacuation protocols that ensure their safety. Additionally, the committee called on Israeli authorities to allow disabled people to safely return to their homes and provide them with assistance in doing so.
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