Europe Asia News

Ghebreyesus met with representatives of the General Union of Disabled Palestinians, the Palestinian Disability Coalition, the Arab Organization of Persons with Disabilities, the Justice for Palestinian Disabled Collective, and the International Disability Alliance to discuss the serious and growing needs of Palestinians with disabilities in Gaza and the West Bank.

He stated that they agreed on urgent needs, which include: allowing the use of assistive technology and devices as part of health aid to Gaza; expanding medical evacuations for specialized care unavailable in Gaza for persons with disabilities; ensuring access for women with disabilities to reproductive health services; developing a comprehensive long-term plan to restructure the health system to provide specialized care as well as rehabilitation; and, above all, a ceasefire.

Ghebreyesus stressed that peace is the only way to end the suffering of Palestinians, including those with disabilities.