Paper details

Paper authors	Berhanu Yayo Hagos
In panel on	The Forgotten Affected Population: Recognizing and Accounting for Crimes against Persons with Disabilities
Paper presenter(s) will be presenting	In-Person / Online

Abstract

The war in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia has disrupted the daily lives of many
people. For persons with disabilities, however, the disruption and consequences of the
war have been especially detrimental and often unnoticed. While most humanitarian
responses addressed the general population, the lived experiences and unique needs of
persons with disabilities whether physical, sensory, or intellectual were often over
looked.
This research aimed to understand how the war has affected persons with disabilities,
bringing forward their voices and hardships. Using a qualitative methodology involving
observations and interviews complemented by humanitarian reports and international
legal instruments (especially the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities, CRPD) the study explored access to emergency assistance, healthcare,
safety, and education.
Findings revealed that many persons with disabilities had been left behind during
evacuations, faced significant barriers to essential services, and were rarely included in
humanitarian planning. Disturbingly, some interviews suggested that persons with
disabilities may have been actively excluded or neglected in ways that could constitute
violations of their rights raising concerns about potential crimes, including preventable
injuries or deaths. While the research did not directly ask about crimes, these indications
emerged organically through the narratives of affected individuals and community
members.
Their lived stories illustrated how war deepens existing inequalities, while also
highlighting urgent needs for inclusive infrastructure and accountability. Despite the
profound hardships, the research also uncovered remarkable resilience, as families and
communities devised ways to support one another with limited resources.
This paper advocates for a fundamental shift in how humanitarian and recovery efforts
are conceived and implemented. Persons with disabilities must be included from the
outset not only to ensure their needs are met, but to build a future where no one is left
behind. Hearing their experiences and involving them in decision-making is essential for
creating inclusive, equitable, and sustainable responses.

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