The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) and partners, consulted nearly 6,000 persons with disabilities in 126 countries on how they cope and prepare for disasters through an online survey.
The results show that people living with disabilities across the world are rarely consulted about their needs in times of disasters. Also highlighted is the various challenges faced by persons with disabilities such as evacuating premises and receiving proper care in emergency facilities.
Released ahead of the International Day for Disaster Reduction, commemorated annually on 13 October, the survey shows that inclusion of disability must be a central concern in all emergency communications to foster disaster resilience.
UNISDR said it has decided to continue the survey until the end of the year to expand the sample. Respondents knowledge and experiences will be taken to the 2015 World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction when UN Member States meeting in Japan will adopt a new global framework for disaster risk reduction to replace the current Hyogo Framework for Action.
Read the full story... (off-site)- Topics:
- Emergency management
- Author:
- UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
- Source:
- Media release
- Date published:
- Sun 13th Oct, 2013