Emergency and Disability Together we can do more Emergency and Disability handicap international Ben Gobin CBM Ireland V.Scherrer, Emergency Coordinator

10 % of any population has some form of disabilities (WHO) A few Facts Together we can do more Together we can do more Every Year, approximately 20 million people with disability are affected by disasters 10 % of any population has some form of disabilities (WHO) 15 to 20 % of the world poorest people have a disability (World Bank) V.Scherrer, Emergency Coordinator

People with disabilities in the aftermath of disasters Persons with severe injuries When disaster strikes people will experience physical and psychological traumas. In line with first medical attention, specific attention to prevent secondary complication and disability and ensure appropriate rehabilitation, follow-up and referral Persons with impairment leading to disability When victims have acquired impairment as a consequence of disaster, ensuring that people access to early rehabilitation services to facilitate recovery and to minimize disabilities as well as long term planning of services to ensure follow-up and comprehensive rehabilitation process Persons with previous disability Persons with disabilities are part of any society, (This includes persons with chronic diseases such as diabetes; epilepsy that unattended could lead on a long-term period of disability). Ensure their visibility and their access to all relief activities with the objective to prevent worsening of disabilities and their participation and equal opportunities for them and their families

Specific vulnerabilities Disabled people tend to be invisible in emergency registration system Lack of awareness about disability among humanitarian organizations Disabled people are more affected by changes in environment resulting from disasters Inadequate physical Accessibility, loss or lack of mobility aids or appropriate assistance deprive them from rescue, evacuation, access to relief, safe location, adequate shelters… Emotional distress and trauma have more long term consequences Communication difficulties

Addressing needs Persons with disabilities have difficulty moving, hearing, seeing, communicating and/or learning They have the same needs and perform the same activities as other members of the community (eating, washing, working…) Persons with disabilities may need specific support related to their disability and their living environment (assistive devices, caregiver, adapted environment or equipment…)

Twin Track approach Together we can do more Together we can do more Including disability as a cross cutting issue to address inequalities in all development / disaster, conflict programmes. Support TO SPECIFIC initiatives to enhance the empowerment of persons with disabilities. Equal opportunities

Ireland has signed the convention Right based approach Together we can do more Together we can do more The UN Convention: its relevance and significance for humanitarian and emergency Work The UN Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities was adopted in December 2006 and opened for signature on 30 March 2007. Ireland has signed the convention

equality and non-discrimination (both direct and indirect). Together we can do more The Convention underlines and reinforces the legal and political recognition of disability as a human rights issue. This Convention is tailored to protect and defend persons with disabilities against the specific risks and vulnerabilities they experience to their human rights, their right to equality and non-discrimination (both direct and indirect). Further more, this international human rights instrument is the first of its kind to include both a stand alone article on International Cooperation plus a stand alone article on situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies

Article 11 on Risk and Humanitarian Emergencies Together we can do more Together we can do more Article 11 requires that States take all necessary measures to ensure that persons with disabilities are protected under international law in situations of risk. Article 11 - Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies States Parties shall take, in accordance with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including situations of armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and the occurrence of natural disasters. What we mean by ‘Situations of Risk’ Situations of risk include armed conflict, complex humanitarian emergencies and natural disasters. The World Health Organisation defines ‘situations of risk’ as: - Sudden catastrophe (such as natural and/or man-made disasters) - Complex and continuous emergencies (such as violent conflict) - Growing threats (such as HIV/AIDS pandemic)

What Article 11 means in practice: Together we can do more Together we can do more Persons with disabilities and children with disabilities need to be considered as a key target group across all intervention processes from identification, assessment and planning, delivery of support programs, monitoring and evaluation. Local organizations of persons with disabilities, and parents of children with disabilities, together with NGOs working in the field of disability should be involved and consulted by humanitarian agencies to ensure the needs of persons with disabilities are recognised. Action and care is needed by humanitarian aid agencies to pro-actively seek-out persons with disabilities to ensure they are registered and supported in a humanitarian situation, as they are often hidden away and/or not easy to identify. Donor agencies should include, in their funding guidelines, information about systematic universal design for all reconstruction projects including temporary shelters and camps to ensure comprehensive accessibility. Sectoral agencies must include the needs of persons with disabilities, including with regard to disability access, in their operations (including shelter, water and sanitation, food distribution, health activities, education). Funding for post-conflict and post-disaster interventions needs to include persons with disabilities in a more tailored way, both to support persons with disabilities as beneficiaries of assistance and also as a means to enable persons with disabilities to be included as part of the community response to the disaster or the emergency.

Disability checklist for emergency response Together we can do more Together we can do more General protection and inclusion principles of persons with disabilities What do we mean by Inclusion in the context of Humanitarian Assistance? The full and equal participation, involvement and assistance to, persons with disabilities in all aspects of the humanitarian intervention process. To achieve disability inclusion, pro-active methods are needed to seek out and locate persons with disabilities living in the poorest communities where they are often hidden away by their families or are invisible for the simple fact that they are socially excluded and/or less independently mobile than non-disabled persons in the community.

General guidelines Together we can do more Together we can do more Ensure non discrimination when providing emergency assistance Make special efforts to identify, locate, register and follow up persons with disabilities Include specific questions about disability issues in all assessment, identify specific needs and make sure data can be used for further interventions Consult persons with disability and encourage participation in decision making and planning Recognise that disabled people are not an homogeneous group and needs and skill may vary Ensure the information you provide is accessible Raise awareness and talk about the basic and specific needs Take appropriate measure to make sure that disabled people have access to relief Consider recruiting persons with disablities Use common sense and aim for practical concrete and immediate results

Health Together we can do more Together we can do more Record system of health services including disability and injury specific information Collate a list of services that can be provided to persons with disabilities and injuries Ensure that health staff know the different and specialized services available Build a clear referral system to the specialized services Orient health staff on how to address the specific needs of persons with disabilities/injuries Follow up to ensure that after discharge they are recovering well and their health needs are continuing to be met Provide them/families with copies of medical records in case they are displaced

Food and nutrition Make sure distribution site are accessible Together we can do more Together we can do more Make sure distribution site are accessible Monitor rate at which persons with disabilities are receiving relief (food/non food) Set up additional measures to reach injures/disabled people in their homes or temporary shelters Insure utensils to eat are appropriate (spoons, straw…) When possible ensure space to eat in privacy Persons with disabilities may need additional high energy food Persons with disabilities may need specific diets (ex liquid based supplements) Make sure persons with injuries have extra assistance to help them eating when necessary Monitor the nutritional status of persons with injuries/disabilities

Water, sanitation and hygiene Together we can do more Together we can do more Ensure that water points, toilets, shower are safe and accessible Prioritize disabled people through special queue to avoid long waiting time Use appropriate communication channels when disseminating information Some persons with disabilities may need specific hygiene items (diapers…) Extend the handle of the water pump Non slippery platform and good water evacuation system Latrines should be designed to be used by everyone Develop a social network to support persons with injuries/disabilities Monitor the access to water for persons with disabilities Make sure your staff and the community are aware of the specific needs of persons with disabilities

Protection Locate disabled persons close to essential services Together we can do more Together we can do more Locate disabled persons close to essential services Set up safe areas to free caregivers to access to relief services Train volunteers from the community to assist persons with disability Provide accompaniment to access legal structure (access, communication) Prioritize reunification efforts Monitor access to relief and record assistance Set up peer counselling Pay specific attention to women and girls with disabilities Children with disability are extremely vulnerable

Reconstruction and shelter Involve persons with disabilities in participatory reconstruction Use the expertise of persons with disabilities for accessible reconstruction Use universal design Avoid obstacles, steps… in temporary shelter Build adapted houses for persons with disabilities Construct all public building using accessibility codes

Livelihood Include persons with disabilities and their families in livelihood assessment Replace lost/damaged tools and equipment of persons with disabilities to help them recover their livelihood Ensure appropriate vocational training Adapt if necessary livelihood tools and equipment Identify alternative for cash or food for work schemes

Education Ensure school building accessibility Install adequate handrails, build ramps, doors, toilets, floors… Identify children who are not participating in your activities Give specific support, make them feel welcome Make sure someone in your team understands inclusive education Support teachers to develop understanding and confidence Address language issues by supporting teaching in sign language and other means of communication Encourage peer support (teacher to teacher, children to children) Be committed to challenging resistance to greater inclusion

Questions V.Scherrer, Emergency Coordinator Together we can do more