Gaza's Disabled Children Face Educational Catastrophe Amidst Ongoing Israeli War

Thirteen-year-old Kenan al-Sabaa struggles to adjust his hearing aid, its parts and batteries now unavailable due to Israel's siege on Gaza. Before the war, Kenan attended the Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children, which offered specialized education and communication opportunities. However, the war has devastated educational infrastructure, including Atfaluna's building, which was partially destroyed and repurposed as a shelter.

Kenan's family was displaced to Jalaa Street in Gaza City. While Atfaluna has established temporary learning spaces, Kenan's father, Tamer al-Sabaa, reports significant academic setbacks due to prolonged interruptions. Kenan missed an entire year of school and now attends only a few hours weekly, insufficient to bridge the learning gap. Tamer fears further attacks could force Kenan to stop attending altogether.

"These few hours do not cover or repair the massive educational gap and academic decline my son experienced during the war," Tamer stated. "He is in dire need of restoring his equipped educational environment and the specialised care that was stripped away from him." The school operates only three days a week for two hours daily. Kenan's deafness poses safety risks, as he cannot hear explosions or warnings, necessitating his parents' guidance through unfamiliar areas.

The war's impact on disabled children in Gaza is profound. Fadel Kuraz, a sign language interpreter with Atfaluna, notes an increase in hearing-related injuries and a severe decline in available services. "What we are experiencing today in the Gaza Strip represents an unprecedented health and humanitarian setback, and a real catastrophe unlike anything we have seen before," Kuraz said. Pre-war estimates indicated around 20,000 individuals with hearing disabilities; field assessments now suggest approximately 35,000 new cases of hearing loss due to explosions.

Shortages of hearing aids, batteries, ear moulds, and spare parts, coupled with obstacles to specialist treatments, exacerbate the crisis. Electricity and communication outages also hinder access to visual learning materials. Kuraz highlights the psychological toll: "A deaf child suffers high levels of fear, stress and complex trauma without the ability to verbally express what is on their mind." Many children live in overcrowded shelters lacking adequate study spaces.

Kuraz stresses that addressing the needs of individuals with hearing disabilities is an "urgent humanitarian necessity," requiring immediate intervention to lift the siege, facilitate the entry of essential supplies, and establish safe educational spaces.

Children with visual impairments face similar challenges. The few available educational facilities, like the Al-Noor school for blind students, have been damaged or are inaccessible. Essential learning materials like Braille are scarce due to the siege. Duaa Omar Basheer, a former educational counsellor at Al-Noor, stated it was the only public school for middle and high school students with visual impairments, but it closed during the war.

While some primary education is offered through UNRWA centres, damaged infrastructure and transport issues create further barriers. Basheer fears a generation of visually impaired students risks losing their Braille and independent learning skills.

Jana Shreim, 12, who is legally blind, relies on prescription glasses that broke during her family's displacement from the Shati refugee camp. Replacement glasses are unaffordable and unavailable due to the blockade, severely impacting her vision and causing her to stumble and be bullied. Her mother, Wafaa Shreim, now acts as Jana's "eyes" and is attempting to teach her at home using a Braille machine, a difficult task while caring for another visually impaired daughter.

"My only message and wish to all responsible parties is to look at our visually impaired children with mercy: provide them with glasses and medical supplies, and open safe educational and recreational spaces that restore their basic right to life and learning," Wafaa pleaded.