A Son of the South Faces the Struggles of War Twice
Ahmad Souli, a thirty-something accountant from Saida, is living the impact of war twice over. First, he lost his home in the Israeli assault amid Lebanon’s financial collapse. Then, a landmine explosion during the conflict cost him one of his legs, leaving him a person with a disability.
He recalls:
“I live with my father, who suffers from diabetes. I used to drive a taxi to provide him with medicine and food. But after losing my leg, I also lost my job, my income, and even my mental health. My father now feels guilty, as if he were to blame. Despite some improvements in the area, roads are still inaccessible for people with disabilities, and the unstable security situation keeps us from getting proper health services. Some humanitarian groups have tried to support us, but what we really need are specialized hospitals or treatment centers for people with disabilities, along with help finding jobs suited to our conditions.”
What is most striking in our societies is the lack of awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities. And if awareness is already limited, how much harder is it to shed light on their suffering in the aftermath of war?
Although some humanitarian organizations provided assistance during the war, their relief efforts rarely reached persons with disabilities in South Lebanon. Meanwhile, the number of disabilities increased: dozens of Lebanese soldiers were wounded—around 50 according to sources—alongside civilians injured by shrapnel and destruction from Israeli attacks. Explosions of “pagers” targeting Hezbollah members also left an estimated 2,570 injured, according to Al Jazeera Net, while at least 12 people were killed, including two children.
The number of war-related disabilities has thus risen sharply, with the Lebanese army alone reporting around 50 wounded soldiers.
How, then, have the war and the economic collapse affected persons with disabilities compared to others? What challenges have they faced?
Ibrahim Abdullah, founder of the Task Force coalition for disability rights in emergencies—which brings together some 30 local and international organizations and was established four days after the outbreak of all-out war—explained that they coordinated with humanitarian groups working in displacement areas. Together, they provided support for 1,200 to 1,300 individuals with disabilities. Abdullah emphasized that collecting accurate numbers is essential when organizations meet to evaluate their efforts.
He highlighted the main challenges: the absence of dedicated shelters for people with disabilities, poor infrastructure such as sidewalks unfit for wheelchair users, and public buildings unequipped with ramps, elevators, or wide-enough doors.
For people with visual impairments, challenges were even harsher. Many could not find where food was distributed or where bathrooms were located without assistance, making them dependent on companions. They also lacked access to assistive devices, which many had left behind while fleeing the fighting. Abdullah added: “We had to secure these devices ourselves, on top of dealing with shortages of medicine on one hand and soaring drug prices on the other.”
He also pointed out that one of the biggest difficulties was transporting people from South Lebanon and the Bekaa to Beirut—a task that proved extremely challenging despite the efforts of the Lebanese Red Cross and Civil Defense.
The economic fallout has been equally devastating. Persons with disabilities are particularly vulnerable, since they cannot easily shift to alternative jobs like many others might.
On top of that, the Ministry of Social Affairs’ assistance program was suspended, leaving them without safety nets. Combined with the collapse of the Lebanese currency and the sharp decline in wages, this has worsened their already dire situation.
On the impact of displacement, it was noted that most shelters were never equipped to accommodate persons with disabilities. As a result, many were forced either to rent expensive apartments or to rely on relatives for housing.
The economic crisis has only worsened their already precarious situation, with rising unemployment and the loss of much of their bank deposits adding further strain.
To respond, the Task Force has continued to provide essential services, including mobility devices, access to medicines, suitable housing, and psychosocial support sessions.
At the state level, Lebanon provided $100 in emergency aid for each person with a disability, in addition to a monthly cash allowance of $40 initially limited to those under 30, later expanded to include all age groups.
However, the Emergency Committee failed to take into account the needs of persons with disabilities or how to ensure their rights during crises.
Dr. Atab Shuaib, an academic and researcher in inclusive design, disability, and integration at the Lebanese Center for Studies and visiting fellow at the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, stressed this gap. She explained:
“The Emergency Committee did not consider the situation of persons with disabilities in Lebanon, nor how to meet their needs during emergencies. That is why, together with Ibrahim, we launched an initiative to bring together local and international organizations working on disability issues. Today, after assessing the war period, we have put forward a recovery plan for the Lebanese state that takes into account the basic needs of persons with disabilities.”
What if the disabilities were caused by the pager explosions?
Dr. Shuaib highlighted a critical issue: many hospitals refused to admit individuals who lost their sight or limbs due to the pager blasts. She argued that humanitarian response was severely undermined by political and sectarian agendas in Lebanon. According to her, around 4,000 people were left with disabilities as a result of these explosions.
