To: Ursula Von Der Leyen, President of the European Commission
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Policy and Security Policy
In copy:
Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič
Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli
Brussels, 13/12/2023
Re: Critical situation of persons with disabilities in Gaza
Dear President, dear High Representative and Vice President Borrell,
The European Disability Forum (EDF) wishes to draw your attention to how the conflict in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, and the ongoing blockage of the strip, preventing people from leaving the territory and blocking humanitarian aid, is creating a critical situation for persons with disabilities.
As the representative organisation of persons with disabilities in Europe, EDF expects the EU to be a global leader in disability rights, and to uphold the rights of persons with disabilities in all its international actions. The EU is founded on equality and human rights, and together with its member states the EU is committed to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities.
In conflict situations, persons with disabilities are among the first to lose their lives or to be left behind. We are at heightened risk of human rights law violations. We have seen, since the appalling attacks of Hamas on Israel on October 7th, hostage taking and killings, followed by relentless bombardments of Gaza, the human catastrophe for everyone concerned.
Organisations of persons with disabilities, still managing to communicate with us, report that the current situation of persons with disabilities in Gaza is impossible:
The situation for persons with disabilities is extremely catastrophic. They (…) have been forced to leave their homes, and live in shelters (schools, hospitals, etc), where there are no services. Many of them lost their assistive devises, such as wheelchairs and hearing aids. They don’t have beds to sleep on, they sleep on the floor, which causes bed sores. Many of them sleep in tents, under the rain (…). Many of them need medical supplies and medical consumables. Many of them don’t find food, drink or a place to live in.
We need many interventions, including food and drink, finding shelter and paying wages, assistive devices, medicines, medical supplies and medical points inside the shelters, sanitary hygiene kits, simple solar energy system and medical mattresses
In this context, EDF would like to make the following requests:
- The EU and the EU countries should call on Israel to fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law, including article 11 (humanitarian action) of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD; the EU and Israel have both ratified this Convention) and the UN Security Council Resolution 2475 on persons with disabilities during armed conflict.
- The EU should call for an immediate ceasefire and continue calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and individuals arbitrarily detained, particularly persons with disabilities.
- The EU should ensure that it can deliver disability-inclusive humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. Access to water, shelter, food, electricity, healthcare, including mental health care and medication should be provided for persons with disabilities, as well as provision of specific requirements such as assistive and medical devices and personal care.
- The EU should consult with persons with disabilities and their representative organisations at EU level and in the region for all humanitarian measures taken to support and save the lives of persons with disabilities in Gaza. EDF can put you in touch with the Arab Regional, and Palestinian Organisations of Persons with Disabilities.
We remain at your disposal should you have any further questions.
Yours sincerely,
Yannis Vardakastanis, President, European Disability Forum