Building Resilience: Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction in El Salvador

As the world confronts the escalating climate crisis, it is increasingly evident that its effects are far from equitable. While the entire planet experiences the consequences of a warming climate, low- and middle-income countries bear the heaviest burden, and people with disabilities are among the most vulnerable. These marginalized populations face?a disproportionate impact from climate change that demands our attention and action.

In response, Momentum Wheels for Humanity has launched a new project to bolster the resilience of people with disabilities to the effects of climate change in El Salvador. As climate change brings more severe weather patterns and natural disasters to the country, there is an urgent need to address the gaps in risk reduction policies, early warning communications systems, and the capacity of emergency personnel to support people with disabilities during emergencies.

Funded by USAID , Momentum Wheels for Humanity, in partnership with Sendas Foundation and with the support of the Ministry of Health and General Directorate of Civil Protection of El Salvador, is proud to launch the Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Project. This initiative aims to strengthen national and regional capacity for disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction, response, and recovery in El Salvador.

By including people with disabilities in the relevant processes, together we can create more effective measures tailored to the actual needs of the disabled population. The panorama of knowledge for key stakeholders will also be enriched since they will hear directly from people with disabilities about their experiences working on risk management in their communities. Considerations related to the inclusion of people with disabilities will be incorporated in all activities and decisions in a way the promotes inclusion and eliminates barriers.—Mónica Olivares, Country Representative for Momentum Wheels for Humanity

The UNDP reports that a staggering 88.7% of El Salvador’s land is vulnerable to severe impacts of natural disaster, putting 95.4% of the population at varying levels of risk. Compounding this issue is the country’s sizable population with disabilities—over 400,000 people, or roughly 6.4% of the population.

People with disabilities often face additional challenges during and after a crisis. Social isolation, limited access to evacuation warnings, and a lack of adequate transportation all create significant barriers. Momentum Wheels for Humanity aims to break down these barriers, ensuring all Salvadoreans have the resources they need to stay safe and recover quickly.

Over the next two years, Momentum Wheels for Humanity, along with its partners, will focus on the following objectives:

• Engage people with disabilities, women, and other marginalized groups to review and improve national policies and procedures for disaster risk reduction and response, including evacuation procedures and sheltering.
• Develop disaster risk reduction and response communications that prioritize disability inclusiveness. This includes creating accessible early warning systems for extreme weather events to ensure everyone receives critical information promptly.
• Build the capacity of national emergency response personnel to support people with disabilities in all stages of disaster management—risk reduction, response, and recovery.
• Integrate assistive technology in community preparedness efforts to facilitate disability-inclusive search and rescue operations and evacuation.
• Raise community awareness about the importance of disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction and response through awareness campaigns.

By prioritizing inclusion, we can build a more resilient El Salvador, together.

For more information, including expected project outcomes: momentum4humanity.org/our-projects/didrr-el-salvador

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