The humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic. Children, older people, and individuals with disabilities are among the most severely affected. A Palestinian organisation now warns that around 35,000 children and adults are at risk of permanently or temporarily losing their hearing. The reasons include violence, ongoing attacks, the collapse of medical services, and the lack of assistive devices. For many families, this means no access to treatment, no support, and no secure future.
This report summarises the most important information — clearly presented and focused on the impact on the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in Gaza.
Thousands of Children Lose Access to Treatment
The organisation Our Children for the Deaf reports that children under the age of five are particularly at risk. This is the most critical period for speech and hearing development. Without treatment during this sensitive phase, the consequences can last a lifetime.
But this is exactly what is happening:
- Many medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed.
- Therapy and hearing tests have completely stopped.
- Families can hardly reach health centres.
- Devices such as hearing aids or cochlear implants are missing because they were lost, damaged, or cannot be repaired due to a lack of spare parts.
For toddlers, this means: they can no longer hear, cannot learn to speak properly, and lose access to essential early support.
Rehabilitation Has Nearly Collapsed
According to the organisation, rehabilitation centres for the hearing-impaired have been severely affected. Some buildings are damaged; others can no longer operate due to power shortages and a lack of resources. Classes and therapy sessions have been suspended in many places.
This creates a dangerous gap:
- No newborn hearing screening
- No speech therapy
- No fitting or adjustment of hearing aids
- No psychological support
The organisation speaks of a “complete standstill” in its educational and rehabilitation services.
Lack of Assistive Devices: Batteries, Spare Parts, Hearing Aids
Many families in Gaza report that their children no longer have functioning hearing aids. Constant displacement, dirt, cold, heat, and missing supplies make it nearly impossible for devices to last for months without malfunction.
Especially affected are:
- Hearing-aid batteries
- Spare parts for cochlear implants
- External audio processors
- Accessories and cables
- Child-sized hearing aids
Once a device stops working, it often cannot be repaired.
Enormous Psychological Stress – 89% of Children Traumatised
The organisation reports severe psychological effects:
- 89% of children show symptoms of traumatic stress
- Night-time crying
- Anxiety
- Sleep disorders
- Bed-wetting
- Social withdrawal
For children with hearing loss, the situation is even more difficult. Without support and communication, fear increases. Many lose trust in their surroundings and cannot process traumatic experiences.
Displacement Creates Additional Barriers
Many families have been displaced multiple times. These constant movements cause them to lose:
- medical records
- hearing aids
- access to therapists
- contact with aid organisations
Reaching rehabilitation centres is often impossible. Roads are dangerous, too far away, or the centres are closed.
Therefore, the organisation calls for:
- mobile hearing-diagnostic units in displacement areas
- rapid provision of hearing devices
- support for the few rehabilitation centres still functioning
People With Disabilities in Gaza Are Especially at Risk
Around 8% of adults in Gaza live with a disability. In 2023 alone, more than 12,000 new cases were reported — many of them involving hearing loss. The situation continues to deteriorate:
- almost no medical care
- almost no psychological support
- almost no assistive devices
- almost no accessible infrastructure
The organisation warns that an entire generation of children and adults could face severe, long-term consequences without immediate intervention — affecting their health, language development, social lives, and future career opportunities.
Conclusion: A Forgotten Emergency Amid a Humanitarian Disaster
The ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip is not only destroying buildings and infrastructure — it is robbing thousands of people of their chance to communicate, develop language, and live independently. Children with hearing loss are losing precious developmental time that will never return.
Organisations on the ground urgently call for:
- hearing aids and batteries
- mobile hearing screenings
- support for rehabilitation centres
- psychological care for children
- improved services for people with disabilities
The situation shows clearly: hearing loss is invisible in crisis zones — yet it affects every aspect of life for those impacted. Without swift action, an entire generation of young people risks losing access to language, education, and social participation.
Bild von hosny salah auf Pixabay
