The Palestinian Network of NGOs has issued a fact sheet on the risks of the Coronavirus pandemic to persons with disabilities (PwDs) in the Gaza Strip. The paper includes several risks and challenges facing people with disabilities in Palestine, especially in the Gaza Strip in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. It assesses the response of the government emergency plan for the needs of this vital society segment, as well as providing many necessary means to confront the threats posed to PwDs.

This came during a project entitled “Palestinian civil society organizations’ perspectives to face future challenges”, which was implemented in partnership with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

The paper, which was prepared by Dr. Bassam Abu Hashish, cited dozens of hurdles facing people with disabilities following the ongoing global pandemic. The most significant problem at hand is the difficulty of accessing accurate information provided by official authorities on the mechanisms of dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic in a timely and appropriate manner depending on the type of disability.

Furthermore, the paper mentioned the necessary measures to alleviate the dangers facing PwDs resulting from the ongoing infectious pandemic, which the Palestinian government, civil society organizations, and individuals are supposed to practice to reduce the anguish of persons with disabilities in Palestine.

The paper recommended that persons with disabilities and their service providers should participate in the emergency programs set by the Palestinian government to ensure the supply of health protection equipment. This would also enable institutions working with PwDs to join local and regional committees responsible for implementing various measures related to managing the spread of COVID-19 and reducing its economic and social repercussions.

Finally, the paper called for all measures to be taken to make distant education practical and appropriate through delivering lessons and classes via specialized TV channels and easy-access online platforms. By achieving this, persons with hearing, mental, and visual disabilities can enjoy their education properly.