Takoma Park, Maryland — Handicap International is today sending a team of emergency specialists to the Philippines in response to the disaster now gripping the country. The team will complement the work already being done by the organization’s teams in the field. The specialists will case-manage the most vulnerable individuals, such as people with disabilities, older people and children, who are particularly at risk in this type of disaster.

“Like most other NGOs, we have unfortunately not yet been able to visit the worst affected areas,” explains Edith van Wijngaarden, Handicap International’s Field Program Director in the Philippines. “Three days after the disaster, only military flights are landing in Tacloban, a town in the center of the country, and one of the worst hit by the storm. However, it’s important that Handicap International’s emergency team accesses the area as soon as possible to make sure highly vulnerable individuals are not left behind.” 

Under these kinds of circumstances, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are at even greater risk than before. As part of its emergency response, the organization will identify vulnerable individuals, help them access humanitarian aid, meet their specific needs (crutches, wheelchairs, etc.) and help provide rehabilitation care for people with disabilities and the injured. 

Footage and reports from the hardest hit provinces show absolute devastation and extreme suffering in the aftermath of this unprecedented typhoon. “Persons with disabilities and new injuries, children and the elderly, in particular, face grave risks,” says Elizabeth MacNairn, director of Handicap International US. “We must work quickly to ensure that local populations, including these extremely vulnerable groups, have access to basic needs such as water, food and shelter as well as specific care. Time is not working in our favor and every hour counts. We urge you to support our work in the Philippines.”

Present in the Philippines since 1985, Handicap International operates development and risk reduction programs in several areas of the country. The contingency plans and evacuation procedures implemented as part of risk reduction operations help alleviate the impact of natural disasters. Handicap International has deployed emergency teams during previous typhoons in the Philippines and benefits from extensive experience in the field.

Disability Inclusive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Resources and Publications

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All: Disability Inclusion from Theory to Practice

A comprehensive guideline which explores key concepts in disability inclusion, inclusive SRHR programmatic approaches and technical areas of iSRHR
Publication Date: March 2022
Author: Humanity & Inclusion

Step Towards Disability Inclusive Sexual Reproductive Health: Learnings from WISH2Action Project

Publication Date: August 2021
Compiled & Edited by: Faruk Ahmed Jalal; Esrat Jahan; Md. Tareq Mahmud; Md. Rakibul Islam; Md. Mazedul Haque; Samira Naher Tazreen

Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Information and Services: Perspectives of women and girls with disabilities in Uganda and Bangladesh

Qualitative research that explores barriers and enablers to accessing SRHR for women and girls with disabilities
Publication Date: August 2021
Authors: Access... | Humanity & Inclusion
Research Author: ThinkPlace

Learning from a disability-inclusive sexual reproductive health and rights program (WISH2ACTION)

A compendium of lessons learned and best practices from across nine key themes related to disability inclusion and SRHR from the WISH2ACTION Program
Publication Date: July 2021
Author: Humanity & Inclusion
Other languages: French | Portuguese

SOP | Standard Operating Procedure on Disability Inclusive Family Planning and Sexual Reproductive Health Services

Publication Date: June 2021
Developed by:  Clinical Contraception Services Delivery Program;  Directorate General of Family Planning; Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MOHFW)
Drafted by:  Shirin Akhter, Consultant; DGFP and Chairman, Women with Disabilities; Development Foundation (WDDF)
Supported by:  United Nations Population Fund
Reviewed by: Technical Working Group on disability inclusive; SOP & Humanity & Inclusion (HI) 

Disability Inclusive Sexual and Reproductive Health (2020)

Humanity & Inclusion promotes Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) of people with disabilities and vulnerable populations in development and fragile settings. View the flier here.

Policy Brief: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women and Young Persons with Disabilities in China

Publication date: 2019
Developed by: HI and UNFPA
Author: Dr. Alessandra Aresu

Chapter 19: When Sexuality Meets Disability: Experiences, Attitudes and Practices from China

Publication Date: 2019
Authors: Dr. Alessandra Aresu and Dr. Muriel Mac-Seing

HIV & Disability in West Africa: A Combined Analysis of 4 Studies Conducted in Burkina Faso, Niger, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde (2019) 

(Only available in French) Humanity & Inclusion works to ensure that no one is forgotten. This research paper responds to the call of UNAIDs and ensuring that no one is forgotten in the response to the epidemic. This paper includes four studies which seek to better understand the situation by HIV-related situation of disabled men and women living in West Africa. View the paper in French here.

Seeing the invisible: Sexuality-related knowledge, attitudes and behavior of children and youth with disabilities in China (2019)

Young people with disabilities have the same right to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) as their peers without disabilities, but their needs and rights are often overlooked. The findings of this study, which was initiated by UNESCO and Humanity & Inclusion, aims to provide evidence to support decision-making by government agencies, educators, development workers and other relevant stakeholders regarding developing and implementing disability-inclusive SRH and sexuality education policies and program for young people in China. View the report here.

AIDS and disability: Just not good enough (2015)

People with disabilities are living with HIV. This paper explains why they must be included in virus prevention education, provided access to treatments, and rehabilitation. What's more, people living with HIV are not receiving proper rehabilitation care as the virus causes impairments. View the article here.

Inclusive and integrated HIV and AIDS programming (2012)

This policy paper describes Humanity & Inclusion’s mandate and values as applied to the theme of inclusive and integrated HIV and AIDS programming. View report here and brief format here.

OTHER RESOURCES

Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (2019)

Since 1982, Humanity & Inclusion has worked in more than 30 countries to respond to the mental health and psychosocial needs of people facing humanitarian crises and/or living in precarious contexts. Our teams promote optimal mental health and foster social participation in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. View the flier here.

Kisumu County sexual & reproductive health strategy 2019-2024

This Kisumu County strategy outlays the principles, objectives and actionable activities that the Department of Health and Sanitation of the County Government of Kisumu, Kenya commits to undertake in order to provide the highest attainable standards of health; particularly sexual and reproductive health. View the strategy here.

Community mental health: Theory, practices, and perspectives (2018)

Mental health problems are commonplace and affect more than one in four people worldwide. They are responsible for a quarter of all disabilities. This document aims to provide a basis for exploring these concepts as part of more in-depth work, including an update of the 2011 mental health framework document. View the document here.

Protection Against Violence Based on Disability, Gender, Age (2019)

Humanity & Inclusion works to prevent violence based on disability, gender and age and its disabling consequences in development and fragile settings, as well as to provide holistic care for survivors of violence, exploitation and abuse. HI’s goal is to ensure that people with disabilities and other at-risk groups are less exposed to violence and can live in dignity, independently, and with control over their own lives. View the flier here.

Non-communicable diseases: Prevention and Detection (2019)

Humanity & Inclusion promotes the awareness raising, prevention, early detection, and care management of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes in development and fragile settings View the flier here.

Road safety: Focus on vulnerable users (2015)

Road safety is a growing development and public health issue. Globally, road crashes are close to becoming one of the first five causes of death, and non-fatal injuries heavily impact on disability. Indeed, each year, road crashes kill 1.25 million people and injure as many as 50 million others. View the briefing paper here.

Diabetes and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors (2012)

This document is intended to provide guidance and a framework for each stage of the project cycle for projects tackling the theme of diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors. View report here and brief format here.

Santé mentale communautaire et violences liées au genre dans la Province Ouest du Rwanda (2012)

A report on community mental health and gender-based violence in Rwanda. View report here and brief format here. (In French)

Mental Health in Post-Crisis and Development Contexts (2011)

This policy paper describes Humanity & Inclusion’s actions, choices and commitments towards mental health in post-crisis and development contexts. View report here and brief format here.

Diabetes Prevention and control projects in countries with limited resources (2009)

This analysis paper presents the ‘know-how’ acquired by Humanity & Inclusion in its diabetes prevention and control projects. View report here.

Policy Paper on Psychosocial Interventions in Lebanon (2008)

A policy paper that presents a design for a national plan on psychosocial interventions, aiming to develop and promote the national plan established during the July 2006 war. View report here.

As It Is: Research Findings on the Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Access to HIV and AIDS Information and Services Amongst Persons with Disability (2007)

Scientifically gathered information concerning the knowledge, attitude and practice among people with disabilities in areas surrounding HIV and AIDS. View report here.

Our teams have worked in the Philippines since 1985, delivering aid and services to victims of natural disasters and running ongoing disaster-risk reduction programs to help people with disabilities prepare for future emergencies.

As one of the world's most disaster-prone countries, Humanity & Inclusion focuses its work on the country's poorest areas—where the population is most exposed to disasters and conflicts and where public services are lacking. Typhoons and their side-effects, including landslides, storm surges and flash floods, are the most frequent and devastating natural disasters. In the past 20 years, natural disasters have killed more than 31,000 and affected more than 98 million people in the Philippines.

In 2017, Humanity & Inclusion opened a regional program through which teams serve people in the Philippines, Indonesia and Timor.

Areas of Intervention

• Disaster risk reduction
• Inclusive employment
• Rehabilitation
• Health and prevention

Humanity & Inclusion's 22-person staff regularly provide emergency response in the wake of cyclones, volcanic eruptions or floods, which regularly strike the country. Teams raise awareness around natural disasters, and help isolated people, pregnant women, and people with disabilities, to prepare for these disasters and to ensure they are not forgotten by organizations providing assistance in the aftermath of disasters. 

By training early childhood actors and medical staff and advising parents, teams are working to create and strengthen prevention, early detection, referral and response systems relating to development delay or the onset of disability in children.

Humanity & Inclusion is also implementing the Forward Together project to give young people with disabilities access to employment in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Our Past Work

Humanity & Inclusion has been in the Philippines since 1985, fostering a culture of dignity, access, and inclusion for ALL people with disabilities and who are vulnerable. Over time, we have evolved our work to meet the dynamic needs of the communities where we serve. 

Read on to learn more about our past work in the Philippines, and consider investing in our future.

Disaster Response

Following natural disasters, Humanity & Inclusion set up fixed and mobile units to provide mobility aids, adaptive devices, protection items, and shelter kits to those most in need and ensure that they have access to food, water, and health services. The response targeted people with disabilities or severe medical conditions, children, expectant mothers, mothers with young children, female heads of households, and the elderly. After Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, the most violent typhoon ever recorded, Humanity & Inclusion launched an emergency response intervention in the provinces of Leyte and Capiz. The organization’s teams deployed a logistics platform to help ensure humanitarian aid could reach the most isolated areas. They also distributed 1,390 tents to people whose homes had been destroyed, and supported the process to rebuild shelters for 900 households. The organization helped 700 highly vulnerable households affected by the typhoon, by providing them with financial and technical assistance, so that they could rebuild homes that are safer and better able to withstand natural disasters.

Disaster Risk Reduction

Humanity & Inclusion helped people prepare for natural disasters by sharing and disseminating disaster risk management training tools with government offices and local organizations. Nearly 57,000 stakeholders in 13 provinces benefited. Humanity & Inclusion also encouraged the authorities to draw up contingency and evacuation plans, which specifically take people with disabilities into account. 

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Three weeks after Typhoon Bopha devastated the southern Philippines, some five million people have been affected by the storm which, according to government estimates, left more than 1,000 people dead and 800 still missing.

More than 350 people have been killed and hundreds more are missing after Typhoon Bopha hit the southern Philippines on December 4 and 5.