Our areas of work

Emergencies
Following a disaster, an estimated 7% of people in camps have a disability. (World Bank)

In emergency situations we assist disabled people, refugees and displaced people by providing treatment and other services. We also raise the awareness of other organisations about the needs of people with disabilities in an emergency, and work with them to improve their services.

Landmines and Cluster Munitions
98% of all recorded cluster submunitions casualties are civilian. (Circle Of Impact: The Fatal Footprint of Cluster Munitions, Handicap International)

Our teams work to prevent disability by clearing landmines, cluster munitions and other unexploded ordnance, and by training local deminers to ensure that countries affected by those weapons can become self-sufficient in clearance activities. We also carry out risk education to teach communities about the dangers of these weapons of war. At international level, we continue to play a key role in the fight to ban landmines and cluster munitions.

Rehabilitation
Worldwide, at least 350 million people with disabilities live in areas where the services needed to assist them are not available. (UN Enable)

Our projects aim to provide high quality, sustainable rehabilitation services through setting up orthopaedic and rehabilitation centres and training local professionals. We also set up community-based rehabilitation projects and advise families on how to support the rehabilitation of disabled relatives.

Health
In developing countries only 2% of people have access to basic health services. (WHO)

By working on the prevention of disabling diseases, the creation of community health services, and the provision of psychological support for victims, our projects aim to ensure every man, woman and child receives the same level of healthcare.

Inclusion
In developing countries, 98% of disabled children do not attend school. (UNICEF)

As an international non-governmental organisation we work to promote inclusion in education, sport and cultural activities, access to employment, and lobbying governments to ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities.

Disability rights and information
Worldwide there are an estimated 650 million people with disabilities – 80% of whom live in developing countries. (UN Enable)

Our teams work alongside people with disabilities, and disabled people’s organisations to address societies’ negative attitudes and discrimination which put people with disabilities in situations of extreme poverty, the poorest of the poor worldwide. We are also involved at the international level with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.