Emergency response

Purna Maya sitting in her wheelchair outside her destroyed house.

Our impact last year

  • 104K people accessed disability-inclusive emergency relief

When disasters strike, people with disabilities are often among the worst affected and the last to receive help.

They may miss out on warnings or information because they can’t see, hear or understand them. They may be unable to escape quickly from danger. And vital emergency aid like shelters or food distribution may be too far away, or difficult to access for a person with a disability.

CBM responds immediately to emergencies worldwide, providing life-saving aid to people with disabilities or injuries and working to rebuild lives and communities.

Disability and Disasters

When disaster strikes, people with disabilities are often among the most affected because:

  • they may be unable to escape;
  • they may struggle to access vital information or services;
  • they may be dependent on assistive devices damaged in the disaster or care-givers who are also struggling;
  • they may have difficulty accessing emergency help or living in temporary environments and they may be unable to access basic health services.

Emergency situations also often put people at greater risk of disability. For every person that dies during a disaster, it is estimated that three people sustain an injury, many causing long-term disabilities. Many people may also experience mental health problems, which can result in long term disability if they do not receive the support they need.

How we help

Immediately after a disaster strikes, our Emergency Response specialists and local partners work together to identify people with disabilities who have been affected and meet their immediate needs of food, water, shelter and healthcare.

After the initial emergency response, we remain in the affected area to support, plan and develop long-term programmes to help rebuild lives and communities into the future.

Being prepared saves lives, so CBM also works with communities and disabled people’s organisations to help ensure that people with disabilities are involved in planning an inclusive response if disasters strike.

CBM has over 100 years experience of providing relief and recovery for people living with or at risk of disability, at times of crisis. An important part of our work is training and supporting other organisations who provide emergency aid to make sure that disabled people are not excluded. As part of the Age and Disability Capacity Programme (ADCAP) consortium, we developed the ground-breaking Humanitarian Inclusion Standards for Older People and People with Disabilities and other resources (open link in new tab). These standards help ensure that organisations providing humanitarian relief are more inclusive in their work, while CBM’s mobile app, the Humanitarian Hands-on Tool (HHOT) (open link in new tab). is a practical tool to help put the standards into practice.


In action

Members of the Nepal Disabled Association in Kathmandu, Nepal, receiving hygiene items (such as bandages, diapers and antiseptics) and medical supplies (such as catheters) from CBM’s partner Nepal Disabled Women Association (NDWA), during COVID-19.

Delivering support with Disabled People’s Organisations in Nepal during COVID-19

Many people with disabilities in Nepal have been facing huge challenges as a result of Coronavirus…

Read more

Disability inclusive disaster risk reduction in Nepal

We are working with partners in 3 districts of Nepal to support disability inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction…

Read more
HHOT App launch poster, with phones showing the app in use and instructions on how to use it.

Mobile app to help people with disabilities during emergencies

CBM’s Humanitarian Hands on Tool (HHOT) is a ground-breaking mobile app to help people with disabilities…

Read more
Community health workers attending mental health training in Bungoma County, Kenya. ©BasicNeedsBasicRightsKenya

Providing mental health support in Kenya during COVID-19

COVID-19 restrictions have had a devastating effect on many people’s mental well-being in Kenya…

Read more
CBM’s partner in Indonesia distributing basic goods and hygiene kits, in collaboration with community representatives and leaders in Siraman Village, Gunungkidul, Indonesia.

Reaching the most vulnerable people in Indonesia during COVID-19

The first case of Coronavirus in Indonesia was identified in March…

Read more
Supporting people with disabilities in Bangladesh during COVID-19

Supporting people with disabilities in Bangladesh during COVID-19

COVID-19 – and the restrictions to prevent its spread – led to an alarming rise in the number of people facing…

Read more

News

Two men walking with CBM t-shirts through the Rohingya camp.
23rd May 2023

Cyclone Mocha: Cox’s Bazar Refugee Camp

Read full story

Blog

Cecilia holding Risper against a blue and brown painted wall.
25th Jul 2022

Kenya Drought: Cecilia's and Risper's Story

Read full story
Back

Keep up to date! Sign up to our e-news here