There have been many natural disasters within the past few months.

As the first anniversary of the Haiti earthquake is today, January 12th 2011, we have collected information to update you on the reconstruction of Haiti.

While the people in Haiti continue to rebuild their lives, we must not forget that many others are experiencing similar challenges in other parts of the world.

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This issue provides updates on the following:

1. Haiti Earthquake – One Year Anniversary
2. One Year On, Huge Challenges Remain for Haitian Quake Recovery
3. Haiti- A Year on from the Earthquake
4. Year After Quake, Thousands of Haitian Children Still Suffering- UNICEF
5. IOM Displacement Figures for Displaced Quake Survivors.
6. Pazapa
7. Stand with Haiti- 6 month report
8. Stand with Haiti- Three Year Plan
9. UN Video & Archives of the Quake
10. Receiving Therapy
11. Is Haiti’s Health System Any Better?
12. Remarks to the General Assembly on Haiti
13. Haiti: Ban appoints four top medical experts to probe source of cholera epidemic
14. Press Conference on Haiti’s Reconstruction, One Year after Earthquake
15. World Bank- Overview A year of Progress and Challenges
16. YouTube- Haiti 12 months on- World Bank Video of rebuilding
17. Situation Update: Nine Months after the Earthquake in Haiti
18. Social Stigma of Disability Plagues Quake Victims
19. What’s Going to Make the Difference in Haiti in 2011?
20. Rolling Stones and Haiti:

This issue provides updates on the following:

1.    Emergency Situation In Haiti
2.    AusAID in Haiti
3.    Reports from Foundation J’Aime Haiti
4.    Long Term Aftershocks of Care
5.    Asia Pacific Leadership Program
6.    Solomon Islands Earthquakes
7.    Asia Pacific Leadership Program
8.    Conclusion of the 19th Session of the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright & Related Rights
9.    Update on the Convention
10.    WHO Seeking Information on Sterilization of People with Disabilities
11.    DPI-AP “Promotion of the Access to Reproductive Rights of Disabled Women”—Photo Exhibition
12.    MIUSA’s WILD Program
13.    Disability Rights Fund
14.    New Resources

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By Jeffrey Kluger  Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010

Article sourced from Time

The scale of the earthquake devastation in Haiti is all but impossible to measure accurately now. Eventually, it will be reduced to hard numbers: so many people killed, so many buildings destroyed, so much wealth and infrastructure lost. There will, however, be invisible injuries too — to the psyches of the survivors. Emotional wounds may be the slowest to develop, but they can also be among the toughest to heal.

Watch Moving Images of Haiti Earthquake >

As we all commenced the New Year refreshed and  with high expectations ready for the challenges that would face us in 2010, we were all shocked and caught off guard by the devastation that followed the earthquake in Haiti.

ADDC extends its heartfelt sympathy to those affected and requests your support to the many agencies that are collecting funds to provide essential humanitarian relief aid to Haiti.

It is during situations like this and the tsunamis that devastated the Pacific region, that we remind you of the dire circumstances that often face people with disabilities who live in these areas.

People with disabilities are significantly more vulnerable during a disaster. For example, inadequate social interaction and communication during impeding days means they often lack vital information on the situation and are particularly unprepared for the consequences.  They tend to be invisible during emergency evacuations and registration processes and the particular needs that they may have due to the disability are not identified or catered for during emergency situations.

The following are some factors which make people with disabilities vulnerable during emergency situations:

• PwD often are invisible during emergency registering and first contact aid situations
• PwD often lack awareness of the situation and find it more difficult to comprehend the expected consequence of the disaster
• The situation can often be misinterpreted due to communication difficulties
• PwD are often excluded from disaster response efforts and particularly are particularly affected by change in terrain from disaster.
• PwD are often unable to access rescue and evacuation services including adequate shelter, water and sanitation
• The emotional trauma and distress caused by a crisis situation often has longer term consequences for PwD.  (Source HI)

There are many methods that can be used to minimize the negative impact of disaster on Pwd. However, the most significant and effective method is to include PwD in the emergency response teams. Mainstreaming Pwd into the emergency response systems aims to address PwD are addressed at every stakeholder level.

Emergencies disproportionately place people with disabilities (PwDs) in vulnerable situations, and can create an insecure environment resulting in new disabilities. During emergency responses, PwDs are often invisible and excluded from accessing emergency support and essential services, such as medical care and water and sanitation facilities (WATSAN). Environmental, societal and attitudinal barriers, result in PwDs needs not being met, causing extensive and long-term consequences [1].

What makes PWD more vulnerable during emergencies?

• PwDs tend to be invisible in emergency registration systems.
• Lack of access to information is may mean PwDs find it difficult to comprehend the consequences of emergencies.
• PwDs are often excluded from emergency response efforts and are particularly affected by changes in terrain resulting from emergencies.
• Because of inadequate physical accessibility, lack of assistance and loss/lack of mobility aids, PwDs are deprived of rescue and evacuation services, relief access, safe location/adequate shelter, WATSAN facilities and other essential services.
• Emotional distress and trauma caused by an emergency often has long-term consequences for PwDs [2]

Publications & Resources

Information Updates & Press Releases

• ADDC:
  Landmine Press Release
• ADDC:
  ‘International Day for Mine Awareness’ and ‘Landmine Clearance Critical to Boost Iraqi Economy’

Fact Sheets

• World Bank:
  Mental Health and Conflict (2003)
• World Health Organisation (WHO):
  Disasters, Disability and Rehabilitation (2005)
• Christian Blind Mission International (CBMI):
  Field Accountability Briefing: Disaster Response and Disabled Access

Manuals

• Helpage International:
  Older people in disasters and humanitarian crises: Guidelines for best practice (2005)
• Handicap International:
  How to Include Disability Issues in Disaster Management (Following Floods 2004 in Bangladesh) (2005)
• Academy for Disaster Management Education Planning and Training (ADEPT):
  Disaster Psychological Response: Handbook for Community Counsellor Trainers

Reports

• Christian Blind Mission (CBM):
  Looking with a Disability Lens at the Disaster Caused By the Tsunami in South-East Asia (2005)
• Disability Knowledge and Research (Disability KaR):
  Disability in Conflict and Emergency Situations: Focus on Tsunami-affected Areas (2005)
• International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC):
  Disability and Conflict Seminar Report (2000)

Links

• Handicap International:
  www.handicap-international.org/index.html
• Centre for International Mental Health:
  The Centre for International Mental Health (CIMH) is dedicated to research, teaching and policy reform in the field of mental health, in Australia and the broader international community. The two main areas of work are in capacity development for mental health in low-income and post-conflict societies, and the development of mental health services for multicultural societies
• Humanitarian Accountability Partnership:
  Promoting accountability to main beneficiaries

[Click here for other disability & development links]

References

1. WHO, Disasters, Disability and Rehabilitation, D.o.I.a.V. Prevention, Editor. 2005, WHO: Geneva.
2. Handicap International, How to Include Disability Issues in Disaster Management: Following Floods 2004 in Bangladesh. 2005, Handicap International: Bangladesh.