Gaza disabled mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities

7 years ago

Image of the Gaza disabled marathon held in Gaza on 29th November 2016 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Tens of Palestinian disabled people in Gaza participated in the “Persistence Marathon” organised yesterday in Gaza, marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in advance of the actual event to be held on 3 December.

The Al-Salam Association for Disabled People in northern Gaza supervised the marathon to draw attention to the difficult living conditions of disabled people in the besieged Strip.

Speaking to Anadolu, the chairman of Al-Salam Association, Mohamed Dweema, said: “This marathon stresses the importance of disabled people in the lives of the Palestinians.”

Dweema noted that most of the participants in this marathon became disabled due to Israeli airstrikes and tank shells that targeted civilians during Israel’s major 2014 offensive.

He added: “After two years since the Israeli offensive on Gaza, the Israeli siege is still an obstacle which undermines the ambitions of the disabled to improve their lives through receiving proper treatment and getting needed medical treatment.”

Click here for more photos from the marathon