Mainstream disability into humanitarian responses.

1. Mainstream disability into humanitarian responses.

2. Global situation: 15% of the world’s populations live with some degree of disabilities -1 billon people- . Of that figure 3% have severe disability. The prevalence of disabilities is growing, especially in low-income countries. 350 million people worldwide are affected by natural disasters and conflict around the world, a considerable number of them being people with specific needs, in particular those with disabilities and seniors.

3. Global situation: People with disabilities are most often at risk or affected disproportionately in disasters situations, emergencies and conflict due various factors: Exclusion from inappropriate polices and practices, at the community level and in agencies involved in humanitarian assistance. Knowledge about risk. Social support networks can be disrupted. During disasters changes in the environment create new barriers. People with disabilities may no have access to evacuation measures, response and recovery.

4. Inclusion of people with disabilities in the planning for preparedness, emergency response and reconstruction All persons affected by a disasters and conflict have a right to protection and assistance in order to ensure the basic conditions for living with dignity. People with disabilities are included as part the humanitarian imperative: Humanitarian charter and minimum standards in disasters response (Sphere project) UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Article 11. Humanitarian action promotes a comprehensive approach that includes the dimension of prevention, preparedness, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

5. Inclusion of people with disabilities in the planning for preparedness, emergency response and reconstruction In order to facilitate the integration of disability issues into emergencies and disasters planning, they should included in: risk assessment; measures to reduce vulnerability and to avoid risk; measurement of adaptive responses; and effective recovery/reconstruction and rehabilitation at local and national levels, supported by international community. It is important that people with disabilities and their organizations, are not only taken into account as beneficiaries, but are also included as partners in the action in humanitarian response

6. Inclusive planning. In this process, we must consider that: Fifteen percent of the population has some kind of disability, and from this group , 3 percent are people with serious difficulties of functioning (high needs). There are other populations groups whose functioning may be limited or compromised. Disasters and emergencies situations can create new groups of people with disabilities or other disabilities can occur in people who already have a disabilities. People with disabilities are one of the groups that are most often at risk or affected disproportionately. The needs of people with disabilities should be included in all stages of disasters management. People with disabilities and their organizations are partners.

7. Suggested Activities for an Action Plan: Prepare people with disabilities Ensure that emergencies response includes people with disabilities Establish partnerships with humanitarian organizations Ensure that people with disabilities and their families are well informed

8. Suggested activities for specific areas: Health Nutrition Emergency shelter and non-food items Water, sanitation and hygiene Education Security and protection Early recovery sectors.

9. Conclusion Despite efforts, specific needs of people with disabilities are often not considered in preparedness plans and emergency and disasters response. The worldwide events of the last two decades have made this situation more evident, hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities being deprived of the humanitarian assistance to which they are entitled. It is time to act; individuals and organizations have a responsibility, within the framework of human rights, to improve the quality and warmth of acting in humanitarian crisis.

10. Thank you! Dr. Armando Vasquez Barrios Advisor on disability and rehabilitation PAHO/WHO vasqueza@paho.org