02/06/2022
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2018
Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies includes: flood, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes (and other natural disasters), fire disasters, pandemics/epidemics, armed conflicts, wars/riots, famine, energy crises and other major emergencies.
People with disabilities are more likely to be left behind during crisis or natural disasters. They lose essential assistive devices such as spectacles, hearing and mobility aids and/or medications or fail to benefit from humanitarian services due to a range of environmental, physical and social barriers. They may also have greater difficulty accessing basic needs, including food, water, shelter, latrines and health-care services and can also face higher risks associated with safety, protection and dignity and may be particularly vulnerable to violence, exploitation and sexual abuse.
We need to ask ourselves questions like:
1. In the case of a conflict or natural disaster, how do we assist persons with visual impairment or persons in wheelchairs access the escape routes?
2. Do individuals or organisations make sure that escape plans or humanitarian assistance are inclusive of persons with disabilities?
Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies can be better managed if the society is more accessible and decisions, plans and policies are inclusive of persons with disabilities.
Ways to ensure that persons with disabilities are not left out in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies is by considering the humanitarian needs and requirements of persons with disabilities while paying attention to the diversity of disabilities.
They should be included across all stages of emergency and humanitarian responses. This includes engagement with disability organisations, where they exist, to ensure the involvement of people with disabilities in decision-making. This helps reduce their vulnerability to further hazards by enabling more equitable access to community-based risk-reduction activities, early warning systems and evacuation mechanisms.
In Nigeria, the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities Act, 2018 also makes provisions for persons with disability in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies. It states in chapter 25 (1) and (2):
In all situations of risk, violence, emergencies and the occurrences of natural disasters, the Government shall take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and protection of persons with disability taking cognisance of their peculiar vulnerability.
JonapwdNational
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