Annual report 2009 - Handicap International

xz Emergency responseReady to launch an immediateresponseHandicap International’s conception of humanitarian aid is to provide assistanceto displaced persons, refugees or victims of disasters whose basic needs are nolonger being met, paying special attention to the wounded and disabled. HandicapInternational contributes to relief efforts by supplying aid adapted to each situationto meet the needs of the populations affected, and the specific needs of the mostvulnerable.In 2009, three years after its creation, Handicap International’sEmergency Response Department implemented aseries of major organisational changes designed to enableit to respond whenever civilians are severely affected by anexceptional event. It has set itself the goal of respondingwithin 72 hours whenever a disaster or large-scale exodusputs the population in a situation of extreme vulnerabilityand causes traumas, disabling injuries, destruction orhardship. The association pays particular attention to ensuringthe specific needs of the injured, disabled and the mostvulnerable are taken into account.xz Sectors of activityDistribution of humanitarian aidWars, populations fleeing from fighting, natural disastersare just some of the situations that deprive people of theirmeans of subsistence. Emergency relief must thereforemake up for what has been destroyed or abandoned.In each situation, the storage, supply and distribution of aidshould be organised according to the nature and extent ofthe population’s needs, using secure systems. In order tobe effective, the relief effort should draw on experience acquiredduring previous crises, and begin by defining needsbefore providing an adapted response in coordination withthe other stakeholders.Countries: Haiti | Democratic Republic of Congo (NorthKivu) | Palestinian Territories.Repatriation and assisting refugees anddisplaced personsCamps for refugees and displaced persons often form duringwars or periods of great political instability, as well asduring exoduses triggered by famine, devastating epidemicsor natural disasters. Refugees and displaced personsare left with nothing: no shelter, water, food, sanitation orclothing. The specific needs of the most vulnerable, especiallypeople with disabilities, are no longer covered.Our emergency response involves identifying sites that canaccommodate several thousands of people, then setting upcamps on these sites and organising their management.This involves ensuring there are shelters, access, sanitaryfacilities, drinking water, food aid distribution areas, burialareas, etc. It may also involve helping to repatriate familiesto their region of origin. However, to ensure these reneweddisplacements do not cause the same problems and havethe same consequences as the initial exoduses, preparationis vital. Zones suitable for returnees must be identified andtransport conditions adapted to the state of health, age ordisability of the persons concerned.Countries: India | Sudan.Disability and Vulnerability Focal PointsAccess to humanitarian aid by vulnerable people is particularlycompromised or disorganised at the height of a crisis:isolated children, the elderly or people with disabilitiesoften have little access to information and are unable tomove around. This is why one of Handicap International’sfirst priorities in an emergency situation is to rapidly set upaccessible “disability and vulnerability focal points” , takingthe country’s cultural and geographic context into accountin doing so. Whether mobile, run from a tent or set up inany other available premises, focal points provide all the humanitarianoperators on site with a clearer picture of at-riskpopulations. They also register people and their families andevaluate their specific needs, organise care and the distributionsof hygiene packs, technical aids, etc., and supply6 ı Annual report 2009