Qatar: Call to improve disabled care

Caring for people with disabilities during and after natural disasters, and policies regarding refugees with disabilities were included in the agenda of the Shafallah International Forum in Quatar.

The Gulf Times reports that Badaoui Rouhban, director of UNESCO Section for Disaster Reduction, said that if countries and NGOs don’t invest in disaster preparedness, they ultimately end up paying more in disaster response, usually with the poor bearing the burden as they are less prepared and more vulnerable. Disaster preparedness need not be expensive, but a culture of safety needs to be developed in places like Haiti where earthquakes can occur but buildings are not built to a safe standard.

He warned, the report continued, that we are heading towards more natural disasters in the future due to climate change, urbanisation, demographic changes and greater interconnectedness, but greater scientific and technological know-how can help make societies better prepared to take care of people with disabilities during the response.