The ongoing crises and events that have shaken our world have underscored the profound impact of humanitarian disasters and armed conflicts on persons with disabilities. These events often lead to the loss of livelihoods, disrupted access to essential services, and a lack of accessible displacement shelters. These challenges are just a fraction of the many hardships faced by persons with disabilities and their families during emergencies.
One of the most devastating examples was the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, marked by systematic destruction and forced displacement. Among the most affected were persons with disabilities, who endured severe violations of their human rights and faced immense difficulties in accessing displacement shelters, services, medication, and assistive devices.
On this special occasion, as we commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Emergency Task Force for Persons with Disabilities in Lebanon emphasizes the following:
1. The Need for an Inclusive Action Plan to ensure the full integration of persons with disabilities into all stages of humanitarian work, including recovery, in line with Article 11 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This requires the active involvement of all stakeholders across sectors and contexts, with priority actions such as:
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Strengthening the involvement of organizations representing persons with disabilities in humanitarian decision-making during the recovery phase and supporting their active roles.
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Addressing behavioral, environmental, and institutional obstacles to ensure inclusion and full participation in humanitarian efforts.
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Supporting initiatives to build the capacities of persons with disabilities and raise awareness about their rights in humanitarian aid initiatives.
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Collecting and categorizing humanitarian data to enable comprehensive planning for the needs of persons with disabilities, while analyzing the risks and obstacles they face.
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Providing mental health and psychosocial support to persons with disabilities and their families affected by aggression during the recovery response phase.
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Encouraging the active involvement of persons with disabilities in developing proposals and suggestions related to displacement shelters and services during the recovery phase.
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Developing national policies that mandate the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all stages of rebuilding, with clear timelines for implementation.
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Prioritizing persons with disabilities and assigning volunteers to provide needs-based assistance at distribution sites.
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Allocating funding and incorporating inclusion indicators into humanitarian projects to ensure accessibility.
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Designing displacement shelters and reconstruction initiatives to be fully inclusive and meet the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities.
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Training shelter staff to effectively respond to the needs of persons with disabilities.
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Providing information in multiple accessible formats to accommodate all types of disabilities.
2. A Message to Persons with Disabilities, Especially Those Displaced
On this international occasion, we extend our warmest congratulations to all persons with disabilities, particularly those displaced by the brutal Israeli aggression on Lebanon. We honor your resilience and acknowledge the immense challenges faced by your families in enduring bombardment and displacement.
We stand with you in your fight against marginalization and exclusion during humanitarian crises, particularly in ensuring the preparation of accessible displacement shelters and the provision of essential services.
We salute your perseverance and the unwavering support of your families. We encourage you to advocate for your human rights, especially during emergencies. Unite against discrimination and marginalization, raise your voices, and demand your rights. Remember: no right is ever lost as long as someone is fighting for it.