Disabled residents in Gaza face extreme hardships amid ongoing conflict

China

Disabled residents in Gaza face extreme hardships amid ongoing conflict

2024-10-14 16:56 Last Updated At：20:37

People with disabilities in Gaza are facing extreme hardships amid the ongoing conflict due to their difficulty in fleeing or evacuating from potentially life-threatening situations, according to the United Nations’ Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The continuing conflict has taken a huge toll on Gaza, with over 42,000 deaths being reported and close to 100,000 being wounded since the Israel-Hamas war erupted last October.

Of these, the number of victims left with physical disabilities in the Gaza Strip has increased to more than 10,000, half of whom are children who have lost one or more limbs, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.

Among those to have sustained a life-changing injury is deaf visual artist Mahmoud Al-Muqayed, who lost an eye in an Israeli attack and has also sadly lost much of his painting collection after his home was destroyed in the bombing.

"I wish I could hold a large exhibition and display all my drawings, so everyone can see through them how much I love life and peace. I drew five pigeons, to depict my five children. I hope my message reaches everyone that we are against war and want to live a normal life like all people," he said via a sign language interpreter.

Life is also proving challenging for Muqayed’s able-bodied wife, Rasha Abu Dayeh. As her husband, along with his three deaf brothers, cannot hear explosions, she feels under extra pressure to protect them and guide them to escape when their neighborhood is targeted.

"My husband cannot hear, so in the event of any strikes or shelling, I cannot gather my husband and children to escape quickly. I even faced a situation where I had to take my husband out during the shelling but I forgot my son because of the intensity of the explosions and my confusion," she recalled.

For those who have sustained serious injuries, the widespread destruction of infrastructure across Gaza has made it even more difficult for people with disabilities to be safely relocated, including local man Zohdi Sarhan, who has his leg amputated.

"I have a physical disability. I've suffered greatly in moving from one place to another during the multiple displacements. This has greatly impacted my life. In addition, rehabilitation and prosthetics are not available at all," said Sarhan.

Greenland tensions ease, but crisis remains

Greenland remains in the international spotlight as diplomatic efforts continue to defuse the crisis sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's push for acquisition of the island.

At a trilateral press conference on Saturday to mark the opening of Canada's first consulate in Nuuk, capital of Greenland, Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Motzfeldt said that the situation has improved compared with a month ago, citing the establishment of a diplomatic track and direct dialog with Washington.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen described the situation in similar terms that Denmark is now in a much better position in regards to Trump's intension to take over Greenland, but stressed the crisis is not yet resolved.

Seeking closer engagement with Greenlanders and a stronger presence in the Arctic, France and Canada each inaugurated a consulate in Nuuk on Friday, moves widely interpreted as concrete support for Denmark and Greenland amid the uncertainty.

Although Trump had withdrawn his previously announced threats of high tariffs on eight European countries unless Denmark agrees to his Greenland deal, officials in Denmark and Greenland emphasized that the underlying issue has not been resolved.

The Danish side stressed that any solution must respect the territorial integrity of Denmark.

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said earlier that sovereignty remains a non-negotiable red line, adding that Greenland is open to cooperation on security and defense with all countries honoring international law.

European countries have repeatedly called for solutions that strictly adhere to international law.

In the quiet capital of Nuuk, home to about 20,000 people, local residents said despite the improved situation, many still felt uneasy.

"For the last month, we have been very worried here, we have felt a lot of pressure. Many people have felt it's hard to sleep at night. Whenever we hear airplane, we were thinking, 'is this the U.S. Army coming?' Now it's a little less tense, but still I think people are a bit worried," said a local resident.

Greenland, the world's largest island, is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, with Copenhagen retaining control over defense and foreign policy. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly expressed a desire to "obtain" Greenland, a move that has sparked backlash across Europe.