Israel's Gaza War Causes Mass Hearing Loss

JAKARTA - Tens of thousands of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have suffered hearing loss due to the repeated sound of Israeli airstrikes since October 2023.

In a report by the United Nations (UN) - coinciding with International Day of the Deaf-Deaf Tuna - it was stated that many people with disabilities in Gaza lost their assistive devices, including wheelchairs and hearing aids.

The United Nations says the war in Gaza is exacerbating the vulnerability of people with disabilities.

Some of them cannot hear evacuation orders, cannot see the road, or are unable to move without assistance, putting them at double risk amid the rapid change of danger zones and evacuation locations.

The United Nations, quoted by ANTARA from WAFA, Monday, June 29, added that most residents of the Gaza Strip still face prolonged insecurity and repeated displacement, accompanied by limited access to basic services.

According to the world body, the crowded displacement sites, damaged buildings, and temporary shelters that lack clean water, sanitation, and adequate protection services make life for people with disabilities in the Gaza Strip more complex and dangerous.

The UN has also repeatedly warned vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, women, children, and the elderly, are facing the worst impact of the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian enclave.