About 35,000 children and adults in the Gaza Strip have partially or completely lost their hearing as a result of Israeli bombardment during the nearly two-year war, according to a report by the French newspaper *Le Monde*, citing a survey by a local non-profit organization.

According to audiologist Ramadan Hussein, who works with the Atfaluna Association for the Deaf, hearing loss can occur as a result of head injuries. or neck, brain trauma, rupture of the ear drum and damage to the auditory system. “But it can also be caused by exposure to powerful sound waves, even if the person is not directly injured,” he said, noting that these disorders are, in most cases, irreversible.

One of the cases mentioned in the report is that of Dana, a 12-year-old girl from Gaza City. She was in her room when an Israeli rocket hit the building in front of her house. Her father said the blast was “extremely loud”, tearing off the bedroom door and shattering the windows. Dana survived, but lost her hearing.

Atfaluna specialists confirmed that the girl suffers from very severe hearing loss. “Due to the force of the blast, the auditory nerve was severely damaged, possibly even completely destroyed,” they said.

The report also mentions the case of a five-day-old baby who was thrown and covered in sand when an Israeli rocket landed a meter away from his family’s tent in Khan Younis’ al-Mawasi area. His mother, Safa al-Qara, said the baby was only found because his legs were sticking out. “He was in terrible condition, we thought he was going to die,” she said.

Four months after birth, the mother noticed that the baby only reacted to movements and not to sounds. Doctors diagnosed him with total hearing loss. According to the report, he urgently needs a hearing aid or cochlear implant to avoid severe developmental delays – something almost impossible in Gaza due to the Israeli blockade.

“For almost a year, no hearing aid has entered the Gaza Strip,” warned Dr. Hussein, adding that even patients who already have them, will soon not be able to use them, as batteries are also prohibited.

In addition to the lack of equipment, laboratories for the production of special ear molds and most of the infrastructure for the treatment of hearing disorders have been destroyed during the Israeli ground offensive. Many specialists in this field have left Gaza because of the war.

Dr. Hussein warned that forced displacement, constant bombardment, hunger and lack of medicine also affect pregnant women and fetuses, increasing the risk of giving birth to children with disabilities, including hearing loss.

Meanwhile, Atfaluna director Fady Abed said that even mild infections, such as ear infections, can cause permanent hearing loss if not treated in time, especially in conditions of malnutrition and lack of care. basic health care in IDP camps.

Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli military, with American support, has launched a devastating war against Gaza, which has so far killed over 71,300 Palestinians and injured more than 171,000 others. The vast majority of the population has been displaced, while the destruction of infrastructure is considered unprecedented since World War II. Thousands of people are still missing.

In addition to the military offensive, the Israeli blockade has caused deliberate starvation, leading to the death of hundreds of Palestinians, mostly children, while hundreds of thousands more are at risk. Despite international condemnations, Israel continues to face no accountability, while it is being investigated for genocide at the International Court of Justice and its leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, are wanted by the International Criminal Court.

Source: prizrenpost