The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that around 15 per cent of the world’s population, or one billion people, have some form of disability. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 80 per cent live in poor countries, where communities are already more vulnerable to disasters and crises such as Ebola epidemics, with people with disabilities often disproportionately affected.
This Paper explores the needs and rights of people with disabilities and the importance of including them in disaster risk reduction and emergency responses. It shows how accelerating progress will require inclusive humanitarian programming and the use of technological solutions to be effectively promoted and incentivised, and that people with disabilities and their organisations need to be involved from the outset in the design and implementation of policies and programmes.