The natural hazards in India are diversified and massive due to vulnerability of both the country and its people (high population density, widespread poverty, lack on awareness and education, etc.). Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are particularly vulnerable due to their specific needs and barriers linked to the physical environment, information and communication as well as attitudes of the society. Moreover, they tend to be invisible during disasters. Along with women and children, PWDs therefore account for a very significant percentage of the people injured or killed during disasters.
Specific needs and vulnerabilities of PWDs therefore need to be addressed in any Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) initiative, taking into account their individual capacities.

To support stakeholders in making their DRR strategies, policies, programs, projects, curricula and activities disability-inclusive, Handicap International is currently implementing the project “Capacity building of disaster risk reduction actors in mainstreaming disability issues in India”, funded by European Commission Directorate General for Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) for 15 months.

The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) was set up to provide rapid and effective support to the victims of crises outside the European Union. ECHO's disaster preparedness programme (DIPECHO) targets vulnerable communities living in the main disaster-prone regions of the world. To know more, please click here.

Handicap International works in partnership with relevant stakeholders towards an inclusive, barrier free and rights based society. To know more about Handicap International India programmes, please click here

More information on Disability, please click here
More information on our DIPECHO project, please click here
To download useful documents from our DIPECHO project, please click here