The Emergency Taskforce for Persons with Disabilities initiative was established on October 1, 2024, in response to the emergency circumstances caused by the brutal Israeli aggression on Lebanon, which forced many Lebanese people, including persons with disabilities and the elderly, to leave their homes in search of safety. The relief efforts on the ground revealed significant exclusion and neglect of the needs of displaced persons with disabilities. Recognizing this gap, we identified the urgent need for action to assist and support these individuals and address their specific needs.
In response, we formed the Emergency Taskforce for Persons with Disabilities, comprising a broad coalition of organizations actively engaged in humanitarian work. This task force will operate in alignment with the principles outlined in Article 11 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ensuring that the rights and needs of persons with disabilities are prioritized in emergency responses.
The Emergency Taskforce for Persons with Disabilities in Lebanon is issuing essential guidelines and outlining the minimum standards that must be ensured in any emergency situation in Lebanon.
Persons with disabilities must be prioritised in all emergency responses. The Emergency Preparedness Team in Lebanon is urged to take a proactive and coordinated approach to inclusivity by systematically addressing the needs of persons with disabilities, older persons, children and women with and without disabilities.
All response actors are called upon to coordinate closely with the Emergency Taskforce for Persons with Disabilities to ensure that emergency planning, implementation, and monitoring are fully inclusive and aligned with established standards.
Inclusive emergency planning is not optional. It is a fundamental responsibility to guarantee dignity, safety, accessibility, and equal access to services for everyone.
