Ibrahim Khalil, 19, lives with his aunt in the flood-affected Feni district in Bangladesh. | © T. Adnan / HI
1.3 billion people – or 16% of the world's population – have a disability*. They are particularly vulnerable to crises:
It is estimated that people with disabilities are 2 to 4 times more likely to die in the event of a disaster. According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), only one in four people with disabilities is able to follow evacuation procedures without difficulty in the event of a disaster, and only 11% claim to be aware of the existence of a disaster management plan in their community.
In the event of forced displacement during evacuations, they are also more exposed to violence, exploitation and abuse such as gender-based violence.
“The bombardments have been raging for over a year in Gaza, the war in Sudan has led to massive population displacements, and more and more countries are being hit by deadly climatic disasters in Africa and Asia. When we provide aid to populations affected by disaster and armed conflict, we also include people with disabilities, who all too often fly under the radar of humanitarian organizations.”
Sophie Allin, HI Inclusion Specialist
HI currently runs 26 disaster preparedness projects in 16 countries. Through these projects, HI directly and indirectly supports nearly 800,000 people worldwide.
In addition to its emergency preparedness operations, HI systematically includes people with disabilities in its emergency programs. It also trains other organizations to effectively include people with disabilities in their response.
Last August was a particularly devastating month in Bangladesh, with intense monsoon rains hitting the northeast of the country and triggering major flooding. Ibrahim Khalil, a 19-year-old resident of Feni, one of the districts most affected by the floods, has been disabled since contracting polio as a child. On August 21, water began to enter his house during the night. Unable to escape in his wheelchair, he and his aunt had to wait until sunrise, hoping to stay alive. It was only the next day that his aunt was able to seek help in the shanty town, and thanks to the local community, they were able to take shelter in a nearby house. Their dwelling could not withstand the force of the waves. In their one room house, all the furniture is soaked with water, and the front door is inaccessible. Ibrahim’s wheelchair was broken, and he had to move around on the floor alone, with several leg injuries. HI teaches local organizations representing disabled people how to play a useful part in the humanitarian response.
Mohammed was born with cerebral palsy due to complications during his birth. He has limited mobility due to muscle stiffness: he cannot sit, stand or walk. He also has a significant language delay. His difficulties have been exacerbated by the daily bombardments that have rocked his hometown of Aita Al Chaeb, located near the Israeli-Lebanese border. Mohammed's family fled to Maarakeh. The family of ten, including Mohammed, now shares a modest three-room house provided by the villagers. In collaboration with the Palestinian Women's Humanitarian Organization (PWHO), HI provided Mohammed with his first wheelchair adapted to his cerebral palsy, a rehabilitation ball for home exercises, an hygiene kit and diapers for his sanitary needs. He was put in touch with the PWHO rehabilitation centre, where he began receiving physical therapy to improve his positioning and muscle strength, as well as occupational therapy to improve his motor and coordination skills.
* https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/disability-and-health
** Program to help the population, including people with disabilities, organize to protect themselves in the event of a climatic disaster, including prevention, evacuation plans, organization of the humanitarian response during the crisis, etc.
