South Sudan 2016 Sophia Mohammed Empowering Persons with disabilities through inclusive humanitarian response South Sudan 2016 Sophia Mohammed

Persons with disabilities in emergency situations Approx. 15% of the global population lives with disability The proportion may be higher among displaced people who have fled conflicts, wars & disasters Yes, persons with disabilities are often literally & programmatically ‘invisible’ in humanitarian response

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Article 11 calls for State parties to undertake “all measures to ensure protection and safety for persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including situations of armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and the occurrence of natural disasters”.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Article 32: Highlights importance of international cooperation in support of national efforts for the realization of the purpose and objectives of the present Convention. This includes cooperation between States on one hand, and partnerships with international and regional organizations as well as the civil society on the other

Disability audit result before the project The disability audit which was done in 2014, revealed that most of the community and aid workers in South Sudan had limited knowledge on disability. They focused more on disaster management than on preparedness and few persons with disabilities had actually had any access to relief support during the recent fighting. Moreover, the community, UN agencies, government humanitarian response committee did not have information about the needs and capacities of persons with disabilities. Based on these findings, considering the implementation of the SDG and through consultation with camp managers and persons with disabilities, a comprehensive humanitarian response project through CBR was set up, based on a twin-track approach.

Principles of inclusive humanitarian response Rights-based programming Participation & inclusion Comprehensive accessibility and universal design – policies, relief operations, information, facilities Non-discrimination – relief services, peace & conflict mitigation Coordination & collaboration among stakeholders – disability as a cross-cutting issue Inclusive rehabilitation and reconstruction

Approach and Activities of Light for the World regarding inclusive humanitarian response in South Sudan Approach: CBR in emergency Disability mainstreaming

Disaggregate data on disability by age/gender/type of disability Activities under CBR in emergency are: CBR in IDP camps which includes the following: Identification & registration Inclusion of questions on disability in screening of new arrivals, subsequent data collection, population census & registration Disaggregate data on disability by age/gender/type of disability Assess duration & severity of disability, specific needs, services/supports required Provide sensitization & training on disability issues to staff responsible for registration.

Protection Location of families with persons with disabilities or injured persons should be close to the existing facilities Orient relief staff/volunteers on disability issues, ways to minimize risk of abuses and to assist people with disabilities Reunite with caregivers/relatives Provide ‘safe’ areas with extra staff/volunteers to free family members/caregivers to access relief activities Ensure sufficient lighting in shelter areas Install ramps where there are stairs Ensure access to all information through appropriate communication channels Ensure that women and children with disabilities are included in vulnerability assessments and community support network

Difficulty chewing and/or swallowing Food security Nutritional risk Possible solution Difficulty chewing and/or swallowing Provide food rations which are easy to mash Reduced food intake Provide high energy food items Need for modified position/posture when feeding Ensure space to eat in privacy Reduced mobility affecting food access Accessible food distribution points Discrimination affecting food access Specific distribution spots, control of rations, separate queues Constipation (e.g., people with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury) Vegetables or eggs in food ration PWD are more susceptible to malnutrition in emergency situations due to difficulty accessing rations, difficulty eating rations, insufficient food quantities or poor reserve energy or pre-disaster general health

Water and sanitation Involve persons with disabilities in design, building and maintenance of WASH facilities Ensure that water points / distribution are accessible to people with low mobility Create a separate queue to avoid long wait Provide assistance for people with disabilities/injuries who cannot carry water by themselves Ensure people with disabilities know where & when water will be distributed Ensure that people with disabilities understand prevention messages or information related to water by using appropriate communication channels (Braille, drawing, SL) Provide accessible toilets

Health Identify health problems & needs of persons with disabilities or those at risk of disabilities Collection of disability specific information in health system records Ensure that health staff know the available specialized services Build up a referral system to specialized services Orient health staff on the specific needs of persons with disabilities/injuries and how to address them A boy with cerebral palsy before and after intervention by CBR program

Follow up patients to ensure their health needs are continuously met Ensure accessibility of health services Provide assistive devices & training on their use Trained professionals or trained members of the community provide shelter-to-shelter by The CBR workers train the individuals, family members to carry out rehabilitation activities, and refer to appropriate resources/services in the community

Education Identify and rehabilitate children with disabilities Awareness-raising and training for teachers on the basics of inclusive education Inclusion of children with disabilities in regular classrooms & child-friendly spaces Promote child-to-child approach Provide adapted teaching/learning materials & assistive devices Teachers training on M&O and Braille

Social Sports for peace Two teams were formed in the camp. Boys and girls football and volley ball team The team raise awareness in the camp about different issues on disability including preaching about peace and reconciliation. The team became a good advocate of peace in Juba. Because of that fighting between youth from different tribes in the camp has reduced.

Recommendation for a sustainable CBR Community based rehabilitation workers Responsiveness to suggestions from clients and others. And when it comes to an emergency situation, CBR field workers need to work with all not only with people with disabilities in order to avoid problem between people with disabilities and others. It is also important to listen what others says. • Careful planning, monitoring and evaluation. • Ownership, enthusiasm and commitment of community workers. Flexibility to learn new things.

Recommendation Government and other stakeholders A country like South Sudan has to have a clear policy about inclusive humanitarian response strategy which includes all without leaving anyone behind. NGOs and UN agencies have to consider the needs of persons with disabilities in any area of their emergency programs. Like, education in emergency, health, and others. DPOs have to look after for persons with disabilities in camps and assist them at the same time they need to advocate for the rights of these group. Persons with disabilities and their parents also need to share their challenges to different stakeholders in order to get proper service in the camp. Disability related NGOs need to give awareness to other NGOs about the relation between SDG and disability in order to mainstream disability easily.

Shared responsibility for supervision. 2. Community Shared responsibility for supervision. Commitment of resource sharing by community members.

3. Client and family Ownership of the intervention. Motivation, as seen in the family’s involvement and encouragement, and the commitment of family resources. Shared responsibility for supervision, Ready to learn management skills.

A boy with visual impairment under mobility and orientation training

Disability mainstreaming is a requirement not a request. Thank you