The World Health Organization estimates that about 15% of the world's population has a disability. Although there are no global figures are available, according to UNHCR this prevalence figure suggests that several million people with disabilities are currently displaced by conflict or natural disaster and are living in refugee camps or urban slums around the world. Some displaced people may have lived their entire life with impairments, while others may have acquired impairments in the conflict that led to fleeing their homes to a refugee camp or urban area.
Displaced people living with disabilities are among the most hidden and neglected of all displaced people. They are very often excluded from mainstream assistance programs because of attitudinal, physical and social barriers. They are often forgotten when specialized and targeted services are established. Refugees with disabilities become even more isolated following their displacement than they were in their original communities.
Humanitarian and subsequent development initiatives need to develop inclusive policies and programmes to ensure the inclusion of refugees with disabilities. This is supported by article 11 of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. To achieve this, more research and improved management information systems are needed to address the gaps in knowledge and to ensure that refugees with disabilities are higher on the international agenda.
The resources in this key list include practical guides, manuals, studies and websites that highlight important information about disability and displacement for people with disabilities, practitioners, humanitarian and development agencies and organisations, as well as communities and family members. We welcome your suggestions: please send comments or suggested additions to sourceassistant@hi-uk.org.
February 2009
January 2010
July 2010
