WUNRN
YEMEN – WOMEN & CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES – ENORMOUS
STRUGGLE IN CONFLICT,
ISSUES OF SAFETY, UNMET SERIOUS DISABILITY NEEDS, CHALLENGES FOR SURVIVAL
May 5, 2015 - The UN Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights draws particular attention to the plight of people with disabilities in Yemen. There are an estimated 3,000,000 people with disabilities living in Yemen who are facing serious protection concerns and increasing difficulties in meeting their basic needs. Those who use wheelchairs have limited or no access to public or private transport facilities due to fuel shortages and high fuel prices across the country. As a result, some people with disabilities and their families have been unable to flee to safe areas. People with disabilities who have fled the violence and have been displaced to bigger cities face risks of isolation and other serious challenges. The recent events have led to the closure of 300 organizations that previously provided specialist services for people with disabilities. Some people with disabilities require ongoing medical treatment which has been discontinued. Additionally, children who need specialized education are not able to access those educational institutions or rehabilitation centres.
BEFORE THE CONFLICT CRISES THERE WERE SOME SERVICES FOR WOMEN WITH DISABILITIES,
IN YEMEN, NEVER ENOUGH, BUT NOW THEY STRUGGLE FOR EXTREMELY SERIOUS SURVIVAL NEEDS
http://nationalyemen.com/2012/06/16/perseverance-and-pain-for-yemens-disabled/
It can be difficult enough to find a disabled
person who has managed to overcome his or her disability and truly succeed in
life …..The alarming rate of
disabilities in Yemeni society – equal to 10% of the country’s population
–demands that every concerned member of the society pay attention to the
problem, and find ways to participate in Yemen’s reaching a lower percentage in
the future.