1/5 Syrian Refugees has disability

What is the purpose of conducting a survey on disability among refugees?

This survey intends to give humanitarian actors precise information on persons with disabilities among Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, and to encourage those actors to adapt the ways they conduct their humanitarian programs, by including the needs of people with disabilities.

Why was such a survey needed?

There is an increasing interest in disability in humanitarian contexts. But we had, so far, very limited information on the number of persons with disabilities and how various barriers affect their daily lives. The lack of data is one of the main reasons why they face exclusion and discrimination. Without data, humanitarian actors are not aware of the barriers that persons with disabilities face in accessing humanitarian assistance such as shelter, water, health and education. Researchers disaggregated the data by disability, age, gender, and location. It is a precious source of precise information to know who has disabilities, where a person is, what difficulties s/he faces and what actions s/he thinks are important.

What are the major findings of the reports?

In both countries, 22.8% of the surveyed Syrian refugees have disabilities. It means that more than 1 in 5 refugees has a disability. Also, 61.4% of the households have at least one member with disabilities. This figure suggests that many households are required to provide additional time and money, as well as physical and emotional effort to care for their family members, and to seek relevant information and services. Humanitarian actors must do a better job of considering the impact of disability on households, and plan adequate family support programs.

The study suggests a strong relationship between poverty and disability…

Yes, the data from Jordan found that poorer households are more likely to have children with disabilities than households in higher income brackets. Around 80% of children with disabilities reside in poor households.

What are the causes of disability?

Around 28% of persons with disabilities reported illness or disease as the primary cause. Many also report having a disability from birth. Also, about one third of persons who reported illness, injuries and malnutrition as causes of their disability say that it was linked to the conflict.

The report includes anxiety as a form of disability. Why?

Anxiety and depression can lead you to experience difficulties communicating, going outside of your home, being active in your daily life... The study found that children frequently experience anxiety and depression. In Zaatari camp in Jordan, in particular, almost 20% of children aged 5-17 feel intense anxiety on a daily basis. This data suggests the strong need for humanitarian actors to focus on mental health and psychosocial support, with careful attention to the young.

The study details the barriers that people with disabilities face.

It is much harder for a person with disability to get a job, And children with disability, especially boys, are more likely to drop out of school. The results also describe barriers. Some infrastructures, like bathrooms, are not always accessible to persons with disabilities. Such inaccessibility also affects persons without disabilities. In some locations, health services are not accessible due to high costs, lack of transportation or discouraging behaviour from the frontline staff. The refugees prioritise possible Thanks to the survey, humanitarian workers know exactly where the gaps are and what has to be improved.

What are the next steps?

HI and iMMAP will continue to broadcast the report to humanitarian actors, hold meetings to explain its findings, and advocate for inclusion of people with disability in humanitarian responses. Our actions will include collaboration with the Australian Foreign Affairs department (DFAT), which made this study possible, to advocate for other donors to make their humanitarian actions inclusive to people with disabilities.

Methodology

Supported by the Australian Government, the study was carried out between October 2017 and January 2018, in areas with high concentrations of Syrian refugees such as Bekaa and Baalbek-Hermel governorates of Lebanon; and Azraq and Zaatari refugee camps as well as Irbid in Jordan. 1,665 households, including 1,159 in Jordan and 506 in Lebanon, comprising 6,381 members in Jordan and 2,495 in Lebanon were randomly selected and joined the study.

The reports and four Study Factsheets can be consulted here.

Study Data can be accessed on the Project Dashboard.

Statement for social network

In Jordan and Lebanon, 1 in 5 Syrian refugees has a disability. More than 60% of the refugee households comprise a person with disability. These figures are significant. Humanitarian actors must support the Charter on Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Action promoted by HI and partners in order to include people with disabilities in humanitarian aid and put an end to their exclusion. More than 220 NGOs, States and funders have already joined the Charter.