Most vulnerable in emergencies

In emergencies, people with disabilities are the most vulnerable. In the chaos, they’re often overlooked by relief agencies, or excluded from access to help and services. In the 2005 Pakistan earthquake, people with disabilities, like this man with leprosy, were among the worst affected. In addition, many more people became disabled as a result of the disaster.

Following a disaster, the WHO estimates 5-7% of people in camps or temporary shelters have a disability (WHO, 2005). A third to half of all people affected by disaster suffer from mental distress (WHO; 2001).

Photo: Pakistan, Thomas Einberger, CBM

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