The refugee crisis in South Sudan is one of the most alarming humanitarian situations in the world. Millions of South Sudanese are fleeing from brutal violence and extensive food insecurity. 86% of those who seek safety in neighbouring countries are women and children, including at least 75,000 children who have become separated from their families, many of whom are in poor health.

In crisis situations, children with disabilities are often excluded from humanitarian assistance. Handicap International (HI) and UNICEF are working together to confront this problem. A toolkit of expert technical guidance has been launched to help all humanitarian actors improve their response.

Handicap International (HI) has launched demining activities in the department of Cauca, in Colombia, the second most affected country after Afghanistan.

Amira is 11 years old. In March 2017, she was injured in a bomb attack in Mosul, and has suffered from a broken leg ever since. She lives with her family in Hasansham camp for displaced people, where Handicap International (HI) is providing her with rehabilitation care.

Salah was hit by schrapnel during a bombing in Mosul, last March. His eight year old daughter died the same day. Salah now lives with the rest of his family in a displaced people’s camp, where he receives regular visits from Handicap International (HI).

In April 2017, Raneen was injured in a bomb attack in Mosul. The leg fracture she sustained has still not healed. She is currently being treated in Hamdaniya hospital, where Handicap International (HI) is providing her with physiotherapy sessions.

In February 2017, Hossam and his family fled the fighting in Mosul and took refuge in Qayyarah displaced people’s camp. A few weeks later, Hossam had an accident that left him with a broken leg. He is being treated in Hamdaniya hospital, where Handicap International is providing him with physiotherapy care. 

Abdel Rahman was caught in a bombing in Mosul last May, which led to the loss of his leg. He now lives with his family in Hasansham displaced people’s camp, where Handicap International (HI) provides him with rehabilitation care and psychological support.  

Abdullah was injured in an explosion in Mosul, last May. Now displaced with his family in a camp located east of the city, the teenager receives assistance from Handicap International (HI), including rehabilitation care to help him recover from a broken leg.

Handicap International, with the support of the IKEA Foundation, is helping 13,000 children in refugee camps in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Thailand to learn how to develop safely through play. The association trains parents and community volunteers so they can stimulate children from an early age.

In October 2016, the the Iraqi armed forces launched a military offensive to retake Mosul, in Iraq. Since then, over a million civilians have been displaced. Two weeks ago, the final assault was launched on Mosul’s Old City, where hundreds of thousands of people were still trapped and where the fighting has considerably intensified. Handicap International describes the situation as extremely alarming.

Sondos is 8 years old and comes from a besieged area in the suburbs of Damascus. In 2016, she and her family were the victims of bombing. Still traumatised by what she has been though, she now lives as a refugee in Lebanon where she receives psychological support from Handicap International.

Mayada, 48 years old, is from the suburbs of Damascus in Syria. In 2014, her house was bombed. As a result of her injuries, her leg had to be amputated. She has been living as a refugee in Lebanon for two years and has been fitted with a prosthesis by Handicap International which monitors her progress through regular physiotherapy sessions.

Khaled was just one year old when he lost his leg in a bombing raid in Syria. He also tragically lost both of his parents that day. He now lives with his aunt as refugees in Lebanon. Since he arrived in the country, Handicap International has provided the little boy with psychological support sessions.