Palestine Calls for Urgent Action to Protect Persons with Disabilities
New York – Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development and Minister of State for Relief Affairs, affirmed that persons with disabilities in Palestine are facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis as a result of the ongoing Israeli aggression and its catastrophic consequences in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including Jerusalem. She called on the international community to take urgent and concrete measures to safeguard their rights and ensure access to essential services.
Her remarks came during Palestine’s participation in the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP19), held at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Minister delivered Palestine’s statement during the Conference’s General Debate and participated in a high-level side event on humanitarian response and inclusive recovery for persons with disabilities in crisis-affected countries, organized by the Global Disability Fund in partnership with the Governments of Norway, Ireland, and Sweden.
The Minister noted that while the world marks the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities this year, the reality in Palestine demands different priorities. For more than 32 months, persons with disabilities have endured severe conditions marked by displacement, destruction, hunger, disease outbreaks, and the collapse of protection systems and essential services.
She highlighted that persons with disabilities in the Gaza Strip, alongside children, women, and older persons, face daily and serious health risks due to contaminated water, the breakdown of sanitation systems, the accumulation of waste, and severe overcrowding in shelters. She noted that more than 70,000 cases linked to rodents and parasites have been reported, while nearly half of those injured in Gaza are expected to live with permanent disabilities for the rest of their lives.
The Minister further stated that more than 42,000 new disability cases have been recorded in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, including over 9,200 children who have undergone amputations or sustained injuries resulting in permanent disabilities. This comes amid continuing restrictions on the entry of assistive devices, prosthetic limbs, and rehabilitation supplies despite the urgent need for them.
She also explained that persons with disabilities in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, face increasing challenges resulting from movement restrictions, military incursions, destruction of infrastructure, and forced displacement, all of which hinder access to healthcare, rehabilitation, education, and social protection services.
The Minister stressed that despite the exceptional circumstances and the financial crisis resulting from the continued withholding of Palestinian clearance revenues, the State of Palestine remains committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Convention. Through the Ministry of Social Development, in cooperation with civil society organizations, United Nations agencies, and international partners, efforts continue to provide social protection services, psychosocial support, rehabilitation services, and cash assistance to persons with disabilities.
During her participation in the international event on humanitarian response and recovery, the Minister outlined the scale of existing humanitarian gaps, noting that 49% of healthcare facilities in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged, while less than 15% of rehabilitation needs are being met. She added that 83% of persons with disabilities have lost their assistive devices, and 92% no longer have regular access to water, medicines, and essential services.
She emphasized that the situation in Gaza is no longer solely a development or human rights issue but has become a humanitarian emergency requiring an urgent international response, effective partnerships, and additional resources. She noted that the Ministry of Social Development and its partners have submitted a proposal to the Global Disability Fund to support rehabilitation, protection, and assistive technology sectors and address the growing service gaps affecting persons with disabilities.
The Minister called on the international community to take immediate action, including ensuring the urgent and unrestricted entry of assistive devices and prosthetic limbs into the Gaza Strip, supporting rehabilitation and care services in the West Bank and Jerusalem, and strengthening social protection and cash assistance programs for persons with disabilities and their families.
In concluding her participation, the Minister stressed that persons with disabilities in Palestine are not seeking special privileges but rather the rights guaranteed to them under international law, foremost among them the rights to life, dignity, protection, and inclusion. She affirmed that the twentieth anniversary of the Convention should serve as a catalyst for moving beyond statements and commitments toward practical action that ensures no person with a disability is left behind.