AccessAid Inclusion Networking LTD

DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, 2018

Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies includes: flood, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes (and other natural disasters), fire disasters, pandemics/epidemics, armed conflicts, wars/riots, famine, energy crises and other major emergencies.

People with disabilities are more likely to be left behind during crisis or natural disasters. They lose essential assistive devices such as spectacles, hearing and mobility aids and/or medications or fail to benefit from humanitarian services due to a range of environmental, physical and social barriers. They may also have greater difficulty accessing basic needs, including food, water, shelter, latrines and health-care services and can also face higher risks associated with safety, protection and dignity and may be particularly vulnerable to violence, exploitation and sexual abuse.

We need to ask ourselves questions like:

1. In the case of a conflict or natural disaster, how do we assist persons with visual impairment or persons in wheelchairs access the escape routes?

2. Do individuals or organisations make sure that escape plans or humanitarian assistance are inclusive of persons with disabilities?

Situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies can be better managed if the society is more accessible and decisions, plans and policies are inclusive of persons with disabilities.

Ways to ensure that persons with disabilities are not left out in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies is by considering the humanitarian needs and requirements of persons with disabilities while paying attention to the diversity of disabilities.

They should be included across all stages of emergency and humanitarian responses. This includes engagement with disability organisations, where they exist, to ensure the involvement of people with disabilities in decision-making. This helps reduce their vulnerability to further hazards by enabling more equitable access to community-based risk-reduction activities, early warning systems and evacuation mechanisms.

In Nigeria, the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities Act, 2018 also makes provisions for persons with disability in situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies. It states in chapter 25 (1) and (2):

In all situations of risk, violence, emergencies and the occurrences of natural disasters, the Government shall take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and protection of persons with disability taking cognisance of their peculiar vulnerability.
JonapwdNational
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PVC: INEC records 48,252 PWDs out of 9,238,991 registrants
By Inclusive News Network - May 18, 2022

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that as at Monday, May 16, 2022, it has recorded 48,252 people with disabilities out of about 5,845,751 Nigerians who have completed their online and physical personal voters’ cards (PVCs) registration.

The commission said on its official social media handle that of those that completed their registration, 2,584,548 people did it online, while 3,261,203 people did it physically. While 2,903,003 were male, 2,942,748 were female. Of the total number, People With Disabilities (PWDs) were 48,252, while 4,045,520 were youths.

The commission also revealed that 9,238,991 people carried out fresh registration within the same time frame.

The five South East states saw a combined total of 517,826 completed registrations with Anambra coming tops at 156,706 and Imo having the least with 53,582.

The six South South states have a combined total of 1,385,192 completed registration with the highest being Delta State at 302,179 and the least is Edo with 163,110.

The six South West states have a total of 1,127,457 completed registration with Osun State having 360,625 and Ondo State, having the least with 107,351.

https://inclusivenews.com.ng/2022/04/11/coalition-set-begin-formulation-national-policy-sign-language/?fbclid=IwAR0kgCG_s7A4jhtseDVsHkTr1-zJx3WL8pzlSwXwvWT-GosAdXopbtEW9ik