People with disabilities are among the most vulnerable victims of Israel’s war on Gaza, and many who need special care are struggling for help. But one man in the southern city of Rafah is trying to fill the gap.

Sderot

People with disabilities, including individuals who are deaf, are facing significant challenges amidst the conflict in Gaza. The ongoing war with Israel has placed them among the most vulnerable groups, as many require specialized care and support which is currently hard to come by. In response to this dire situation, an individual in the southern city of Rafah is taking initiative to provide help and bridge the gap in services for those in need.

This effort highlights the broader struggles faced by persons with disabilities in conflict zones, particularly in areas where healthcare and support services are disrupted or inaccessible due to the war. The actions of the person in Rafah represent a critical, albeit small, step towards addressing the complex needs of this community amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis.



Deaf Palestinians among most vulnerable amid war

Even without words, deaf Palestinians in Gaza are able to describe the horrors of Israeli attacks in their strongest terms. When I hear the bombing, my wife and I shake out of fear. At every explosion, I try to protect my head. I fear most for the children, as they start crying out of panic. I cover them with a blanket to protect them from debris and dust. When we finally made it to Rafah, it was such a big relief. Thanks be to God. Suleiman and three other deaf Palestinians were forced from their homes in Khan Yunis and had to take their families to Rafah. They felt lost and helpless for days until they met Ahmed El-Laham. He decided to use his knowledge of sign language to help them. Deaf people are a very special case. Not everybody can understand them, and they're very concerned. Concerned about their children and their families. And their senses are very heightened, a lot more heightened than ours. Ahmed says his deaf friend's most essential need after food and shelter is to find someone to communicate with and share their experience of the war. I cannot hear explosions, but I feel the earth shaking under me. I see dust and concrete slabs flying over our heads, windows and doors blown away. I can also smell the powder and smoke. I do my best to cover my children, to protect them. At night, we cannot sleep. My children are crying out of fear. I try to calm them down, cover them with blankets. It's been a week since Ahmed began to accompany his four guests in their search for ways to settle in Rafah. When they first came, they needed tools and wood for their tents, and they didn't know how to ask for them. I helped them acquire hammers and other tools, as well as nylon sheets, and I went to speak to the committees to try and get them tarpaulin for the tents. Rafah is the last resort for those trying to escape the war in Gaza. But even here, Israeli raids are a daily reality. And in the face of a potential ground invasion, not only the deaf, but everyone else feels unsafe and vulnerable. Mohamed Val, Al Jazeera.

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