Disaster prevention

Disaster Preparedness Saves Lives

Storms, floods, earthquakes, or emerging 
diseases can plunge entire regions into 
humanitarian crises in a very short time. 
Disaster preparedness helps people in 
at-risk areas better prepare for such 
events and limits its impact. The goal 
is to prevent suffering before it occurs 
and to make communities more resilient to 
future disasters.

People with Disabilities at Particular Risk

People with disabilities are 
disproportionately affected by natural 
disasters. Only one in five people with 
disabilities can be safely evacuated in an 
emergency. During the 2011 earthquake and 
tsunami in Japan, their mortality rate was 
two to four times higher than that of people 
without disabilities. At the same time, around 
three-quarters of people with disabilities 
are excluded from humanitarian aid following 
a disaster, and only 17 percent are aware of 
their community's protective measures.

Inclusive disaster preparedness is therefore 
essential. Information must be accessible to 
everyone for instance, through sign language, 
audio and video formats, easy-to-understand 
text, illustrations, or high-contrast visuals. 
People with disabilities are involved in the 
planning of preparedness measures from the 
very beginning.

Better Preparing Communities for Emergencies

For over 20 years, the partner organization 
of Aktion Deutschland Hilft, Handicap 
International, has been committed to 
inclusive disaster preparedness and is 
currently implementing 23 projects across 12 
countries. Working alongside local authorities 
and communities, the organization develops 
emergency plans that take into account the 
needs of particularly vulnerable individuals. 
Regional stakeholders receive training on 
identifying risks early and on including people 
with disabilities, the elderly, and pregnant 
women in evacuation and protection measures.

In addition, Handicap International supports 
the construction of accessible emergency 
shelters, provides technology for monitoring 
weather patterns, and shares information on 
resilient building methods using local 
materials. At the same time, roads and water 
storage facilities are improved to ensure 
access to clean water and life-saving aid, 
even during a disaster. Risk awareness 
training, the stockpiling of first-aid 
supplies, and regular simulation exercises 
help communities act quickly and in a 
coordinated manner when an emergency strikes.

Protecting Lives Together

Through its disaster preparedness programs, 
Handicap International has already reached 
more than 783,000 people, either directly or 
indirectly. Close cooperation with local 
authorities and communities fosters the 
creation of sustainable structures that 
offer better protection to people and help 
significantly reduce the impact of 
future disasters.

Thank you for your kind donation!