Description
Persons with disabilities comprise 15% of the total population of the world, that is. every three persons out of any given twenty people in the world, and over one billion people in total. This number does not account for those indirectly affected by discrimination, exclusion and barriers that come with disabilities, such as family members and caregivers. Additionally, due to discrimination and stigma, many persons with disabilities and their families often do not report to authorities or humanitarian organizations, and thus this figure is probably much higher, with numbers often estimated as high as 30%, Armed conflicts increase this number. as many more people acquire new impairments, whether physical, sensory or psychosocial, as a result of military operations. Persons with pre-existing disabilities face additional challenges and risks once an armed conflict breaks out. Accessing and receiving the basic necessities for survival, such as food, water, sanitation, shelter, healthcare and humanitarian aid, become arduous, if not impossible. In turn, this imperils these individuals' ability to live a dignified life. Fearing for their lives and security, when many are forced to flee their homes, persons with disabilities are often left behind, or simply cannot leave, facing the challenges and barriers exacerbated by military operations.
Urban warfare and the use of explosive weapons with wide-area impact in populated areas leave many affected people with life-long disabilities or severe psychological trauma: What remains of healthcare facilities in such environments is often overwhelmed with the sick and wounded, typically with complex injuries.
Persons with disabilities, who already face discrimination and stigma in peacetime, often face even greater harm in armed conflicts- including being directly targeted or indiscriminately attacked. Women and girls with disabilities
