August 19 - Geneva - On World Humanitarian Day, ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology, is urgently calling for increased access to assistive products in Gaza, as the number of people with injuries, disabilities and chronic health conditions being left behind is rising at an alarming rate.
According to the latest available figures, since October 2023, more than 90,000 people have been injured during the war in Gaza, many of whom are in desperate need of assistive technology and rehabilitation services, including several thousand who have lost one or several limbs. The increased prevalence of complex limb injuries, amputations, burns, vision and hearing impairments, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries caused by the explosive weapons used in populated areas in Gaza is unprecedented.
Rehabilitation teams tell us that available assistive products are not crossing the border, which is a major concern for the needs of persons with injuries and disabilities in Gaza, and the situation is deteriorating on a daily basis.
Assistive technology is an umbrella term for assistive products such as prosthetics, wheelchairs, glasses, hearing aids, and their related systems and services. Assistive products save lives, alleviate suffering, and address urgent needs of people with newly acquired injuries, persons with acute and chronic health conditions, persons with pre-existing disabilities and older people. It is estimated that more than 150,000 people could be in urgent need of rehabilitation care and assistive technology services.
Movements inside the Gaza Strip are limited due to the shelling and the physical barriers posed by the rubble and destruction. For people with mobility issues, navigating these obstacles is not only difficult but also perilous.The absence of essential assistive products - such as wheelchairs, prosthetics, glasses, or hearing aids - exacerbates an already desperate and chaotic situation. Without these critical tools, moving safely becomes nearly impossible, especially for those injured by the conflict.
However, with the right assistive products, daily life for those affected can become more manageable. These products provide the necessary support to help individuals regain some independence, allowing them to move around and access essential services like food, water, sanitation, primary health care, education, and protection. In a crisis, having access to assistive technology can be the difference between vulnerability and the ability to survive with dignity.
Members of the Rehabilitation Task Force for Gaza, co-led by Humanity & Inclusion and the World Health Organisation, have identified access to AT as a priority. However, eight months into the crisis, rehabilitation teams underline the shortage of assistive products, including basic mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walking aids.
“The number of persons with disabilities, and how many families are in need of rehabilitation - or in need of assistive products like wheelchairs or crutches - is increasing by the day, and sometimes it’s difficult to keep up. But we’re trying our utmost best,” said Noor Bimbashi, an advocacy officer for Humanity & Inclusion based in the West Bank. “Some children think that their legs might grow again. This is one of the saddest things that we hear on a regular basis, when talking to children. They tell us, we’re waiting for our legs to grow again. Sometimes, it’s difficult to explain that that’s not going to happen.”
Coordination of all activities through the Rehabilitation Task Force is essential to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the response. Medical providers should also take steps to fully integrate rehabilitation and AT into their responses in line with the existing Health Cluster and Emergency Medical Team strategies.
“ATscale is ready to play a role in scaling-up access to AT to support a more inclusive and equitable response but we need global attention to get the products in. Our hope is that shining a spotlight on this situation will ignite an accelerated response,” said Pascal Bijleveld, CEO of ATscale. “We are committed to leveraging additional sources of funding for the Gaza response and are ready to support relevant stakeholders (donors, authorities, specialized organizations, and AT users) in a coordinated approach for building a sustainable rehabilitation strategy in Gaza.”
ATscale is calling the international community and any parties in position to support assistive product supply to the Gaza strip to take action now. Calls include:
Prioritization and facilitation of cross-border assistive products supply;
Rapid scale up in access to assistive technology, in particular to essential assistive products, through additional coordinated supply and rehabilitation services;
Increased donor support for a mid to long-term approach to restore access to sustainable rehabilitation and assistive technology services;
Support of the Rehabilitation Task Force for Gaza in their coordination of rehabilitation actors, to reduce fragmentation of the response and difficulties to access maintenance and replacement services;
Continued integration of rehabilitation and assistive technology into the medical surge response in line with Emergency Medical Team standards;
In line with the UN Security Council and other UN agencies, we call for an immediate ceasefire and unconditional release of hostages and the urgent need to expand the flow of aid into Gaza, including assistive products.
A rapid scale up of support is required to address both urgent and longer-term rehabilitation needs in Gaza. Thousands of people will require day-to-day follow-up, and regular access to rehabilitation and assistive technology services for many years to come.
Media enquiries
Ceridwen Johnson, ATscale
cjohnson@atscalepartnership.org
https://atscalepartnership.org/
+41 (0) 7929 142815
Notes to editors
About ATscale
ATscale, the Global Partnership for Assistive Technology hosted by UNOPS, is a cross-sector global partnership with a mission to transform people’s lives through assistive technology. It catalyzes action to ensure that, by 2030, an additional 500 million people in low- and middle-income countries will get the life-changing assistive technology they need.
ATscale works with governments, assistive technology users, NGOs, bilateral donors, the private sector and multilateral organizations to increase awareness and political will, and support innovation and investment in assistive technology markets, systems and services.
About the Rehabilitation Task Force for Gaza
The Rehabilitation Task Force for Gaza, co-led by Humanity & Inclusion and the World Health Organization, coordinates all health actors providing rehabilitation and assistive technology services in the Gaza strip, through establishment of referral pathways and technical guidance. Rehabilitation Task Force members include authorities, UN agencies, international and local organizations and non-governmental organizations.