UN: Israel's War in Gaza Triggers Mass Hearing Loss

New York (ANTARA) - Tens of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are experiencing hearing impairment due to the repeated sound of explosions from Israeli airstrikes since October 2023, the United Nations (UN) has reported.

In its report on Saturday (27/6), which coincides with International Day of the Deaf, the UN stated that many persons with disabilities in Gaza have lost their assistive devices, including wheelchairs and hearing aids.

The UN noted that the war in Gaza is further exacerbating the vulnerability of persons with disabilities.

Some are unable to hear evacuation orders, cannot see the way, or are unable to move without assistance, placing them at double the risk amidst the rapidly changing danger zones and displacement locations.

The UN added that most residents of the Gaza Strip continue to face prolonged insecurity and repeated displacement, accompanied by limited access to basic services.

According to the global body, overcrowded displacement sites, damaged buildings, and temporary shelters lacking clean water, sanitation, and adequate protection services make life for persons with disabilities in the Gaza Strip increasingly complex and dangerous.

The UN has also repeatedly warned that vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities, women, children, and the elderly, face the heaviest impacts of the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian enclave.