On the eve of the Canadian federal election, HI is calling on the leaders and leaders of the main parties to mobilize against the bombing of civilian areas. Elsewhere in the world, HI invites the public to call on its members of parliament in Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. By calling on your MPs, let us exert our full weight on governments to put an end to the bombing of civilians in populated areas. 90 MPs (from Belgium, France, Switzerland…) have already expressed their support for our campaign.

Sierra Leone's female literacy rate (34%) is one of the lowest in the world and, although there are many policies, none specifically addresses children with disabilities, with the exception of the Children's Rights Act (2007) which guarantees every child access to education. To address this situation, HI is implementing the Girl's Education Challenge - Transition (GEC-T) project, with key partners, so that girls and marginalized children with disabilities in five districts of Sierra Leone can reach their full potential and make the transition from primary school to secondary school and beyond.

HI is improving health facilities for pregnant women and newborns in the maritime region of Togo. Thanks to these interventions, neonatal mortality is expected to fall by 20% by the end of 2019.

In the corner of a dark hut, ten-year-old Shumira is busy with her make-up bag. A mirror directs thin rays of sunlight onto the little girl's face, revealing cheeks reddened by the mixture of face powders that she has put together. Shumira is getting ready to go and play outside, in the Teknaf refugee camp in Bangladesh. No easy task after years of living in seclusion, due to her disability, cerebral palsy.

This World Humanitarian Day, we're putting a spotlight on the women humanitarians who dedicate their lives to making the world a better place. Women humanitarians with Humanity & Inclusion are committed to making the world a healthier, safer, happier, and more inclusive space for people with disabilities. And for that, we are incredibly grateful! Today, we're highlighting some of our inspiring colleagues from around the globe.

Tichaona Mashodo manages the HI flying team in South Sudan. He reflects on his 10-year humanitarian commitment.

Seham teaches at a special school in Gaza, in the Palestinian Territories, which benefits from Humanity and Inclusion’s training programme and teaching aids. 

As part of the Cinéma sous les étoiles tour, Funambules Médias and HI Canada are presenting two documentaries that will be screened outdoors.

Between October 2016 and July 2017, Mosul, in Nineveh province, was the scene of heavy fighting. The intensive use of explosive weapons such as bombs and improvised mines was particularly destructive in the western half of the city. More than 500,000 people are still displaced in camps.

HI has been conducting weapons clearance operations near Faya-Largeau, the capital of Borku province in northern Chad, since November 2018. Some fifty weapons clearance experts work in the area. HI Communications Officer Gilles Lordet joined the teams for a typical morning of demining.

For the first time ever, the United Nations Security Council has adopted a Resolution on persons with disabilities in armed conflict. This represents a significant step forward for people with disabilities, who are particularly at risk in crisis situations and often overlooked in humanitarian assistance.

Since last January, HI and its partner Mobility Robotics have been trialing the use of drones to support weapons clearance experts in Faya-Largeau, northern Chad.

Alongside 50 weapons clearance experts working in Chad, HI uses a remote-controlled platform, a German-made GCS 200, to clear large areas in record time.

Bayan, originally from Aleppo, Syria, has cerebral palsy. Thanks to HI, she is receiving rehabilitation care for first the time in her life.  

Wounded in both legs by a bullet, Nehad has begun the long process of rehabilitation with HI.