In 2015 when Malawi experienced the most ever flooding that affected almost 15 districts out of 28 districts of the country, people with disabilities were among those who were disproportionately affected.
Since the entry into force of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2008, disability has taken a more prominent place on the disaster policy agenda. States are required by the Convention to take “all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk,” which include conflict, humanitarian emergencies, and natural disasters.
Discussions on disability inclusion in disaster risk reduction took centre stage during the Eighth Africa Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Seventh High-Level Meeting in Nairobi, with leaders pushing for a more rigorous approach to disability-inclusive disaster risk management.
DIRAJ member Ruth Keah Kadide reports.
