Summary of the e-discussion: disabled and other vulnerable people in natural disasters

The e- discussion “Disabled and other Vulnerable People in Natural Disasters”, organized and hosted by the World Bank, was open to all interested parties who are experts on disability issues, as well as emergency planners, responders and relief organizations. The forum demonstrated that planning, response and recovery from disasters cannot and are not the same in any country. Factors including geographical, social, political, economic, and demographic collude to mitigate (or not) the effects of the disaster. But to quote one participant “across all the boundaries […] disabled people suffer more than their non-disabled peers in all contexts.” Keeping this in mind, it is pertinent to note that, similar to the previous week, some participants highlighted the need for similar discussions and engagement regarding other complex humanitarian emergencies, including violent conflict.