Gaza War Leaves Over 21,000 Children Disabled

As of September 3, 2025, The United Nations released a report stating that since the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas on October 7, 2023, over 40,500 children in Gaza have been injured. More than half—approximately 21,000 children—have sustained various disabilities, including physical, vision, and hearing impairments. The report emphasizes that most of these children require long-term rehabilitation and ongoing medical support.

The UN noted that many injured children faced difficulties during evacuation. Some evacuation directives did not account for children with disabilities, forcing them to rely on others or crawl to escape, increasing the risk of injury and death. The report also warned that due to Gaza’s blockade and limited humanitarian aid, children and their families struggle to access basic necessities, including food, clean water, medical facilities, and hygiene supplies.

Humanitarian organizations noted that many disabled children rely on caregivers for daily life, and lack of assistance worsens their survival challenges. The UN called on all parties to take specialized measures to ensure the safe evacuation of disabled children and their families and to lift restrictions on humanitarian aid, protecting the basic rights and needs of affected populations.

The report also highlights the heavy burden the conflict has placed on Gaza’s healthcare system, with rehabilitation centers, hospitals, and community health facilities unable to meet the long-term recovery needs of the large number of injured children. The UN urges the international community to increase support for medical and rehabilitation services to alleviate the ongoing crisis faced by children and families.