Views on the upcoming Lancet Commission on disability and health

Following the formation of the Lancet Commission on disability and health, it is essential that young people with disabilities in humanitarian settings are not overlooked. In 2019, the UN Security Council adopted an urgent call to respect the rights of people with disabilities in conflict under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006). According to UNICEF, 13% of children worldwide aged 5–17 years have a disability, with higher levels in regions impacted by armed conflict. These young people are often neglected during the war-to-peace transition.

The genocide in Gaza, perpetrated by the Government of Israel, has left tens of thousands of people dead, and maimed countless others. Due to the systematic destruction of Gaza's health facilities, wounded people have not received proper care, resulting in high levels of disability, with many young people losing limbs, eyesight, and mental or hearing capabilities.

Suggested citation

Abu Hamad, B., Vintges, J., Jones, N. and Abualghaib, O. (2025) ‘Views on the upcoming Lancet Commission on disability and health’. The Lancet 406(10519), 2537–2538 (https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(25)02023-9)