The National Inclusive Emergency Preparedness Plan for Persons with Disabilities was developed by the Emergency Taskforce for Persons with Disabilities, a broad coalition formed in October 2024 in response to the exclusion and neglect faced by persons with disabilities during emergency relief operations following the Israeli aggression on Lebanon.
The plan builds on Article 11 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which obliges States to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including armed conflict, humanitarian crises, and natural disasters. It also reflects international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Charter on the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action.
Objectives of the Plan
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Guarantee accessible shelters, health care, psychosocial support, and assistive devices for persons with disabilities.
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Create referral systems to respond effectively to needs during crises.
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Ensure equitable and inclusive relief distribution, minimizing duplication and discrimination.
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Establish coordination mechanisms with emergency committees and disaster management bodies at national and local levels.
Organizations Behind the Plan
The Taskforce is composed of a diverse range of national, regional, and international organizations working on disability rights and humanitarian response. Key members include:
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Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs): Lebanese Union for People with Physical Disabilities (LUPD), Forum for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (FRPD), Lebanese Association for Self-Advocacy (LASA), Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network( EDAN), Lebanese Forum of Women with Disabilities, Youth Association of the Blind (YAB), Moussawat Association, Centre for Lebanese Studies – Disability Hub (CLS).
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Medical and service organizations: Al-Rahma Medical Center, Friends of the Disabled Association, Arcenciel, APML (Parents of the Hard of Hearing).
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International NGOs: Humanity & Inclusion (HI), AVSI, Terre des Hommes – Italy, HelpAge International, World Rehabilitation Fund (WRF).
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UN Agencies and International Organizations: WHO, ILO, WFP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNHCR, ICRC,
Together, these organizations ensure that the plan is rooted in rights-based, inclusive, and coordinated action, placing persons with disabilities and their representative organizations at the heart of Lebanon’s emergency preparedness and humanitarian response.
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