In the midst of the devastation of the healthcare system in Gaza and the shortage of medical supplies, Israeli authorities have been criticized for refusing to organize medical evacuations and for not allowing the provision of essential aid to thousands of people with disabilities, especially children, who urgently need care.
According to experts, including the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Heba Hagrass, the situation is serious and a ceasefire is required to allow evacuations. The slow pace of medical evacuations in Gaza, with fewer than one child evacuated per day, poses a significant challenge in caring for the 2,500 children who need medical assistance.
UN experts have pointed out that people with disabilities, particularly children, are one of the most affected groups by the lack of evacuations in Gaza. These individuals require specialized medical services that are not available in the Strip, further worsening the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is scheduled to resume the third phase of polio vaccination in Gaza between October 28 and November 5, after it was postponed due to hostilities and the lack of humanitarian pauses. The suspension of this vaccination puts children in the region at risk and could trigger an outbreak of the disease.
UNICEF has raised alarms about critical delays in medical evacuations out of Gaza, with a drastic decline in the number of children evacuated since the closure of Rafah in May. The lack of access to specialized medical care poses a threat to the health of minors in Gaza, requiring prompt action from the responsible authorities and the international community.
