Wheelchair shortage deepens crisis for disabled people in Gaza

Disabled residents in Gaza are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis as acute shortages of wheelchairs leave many unable to move, access medical care, or live independently. Testimonies from families describe elderly caregivers struggling to manoeuvre damaged or improvised chairs, while some individuals are forced to crawl or share a single wheelchair among several people.

Years of Israeli bombardment, displacement and poverty have made repairs costly and replacements nearly impossible to obtain, with prices far beyond what most families can afford leaving vulnerable people isolated in tents.

Without urgent intervention, thousands of disabled residents are likely to continue enduring extreme hardship, prompting calls for measures to allow the entry of wheelchairs into the besieged Strip to help ease the burden on those most vulnerable.