Handcap International - Rwanda

Handicap International - Atlas Logistics

Handicap International is an international organisation specialised in the field of disability. Non-governmental, non-religious, non-political and non-profit making, it works alongside people with disabilities, whatever the context, offering them assistance and supporting them in their efforts to become self-reliant. Since its creation, the organisation has set up programmes in approximately 60 countries and intervened in many emergency situations. It has a network of eight national associations (Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA) which provide human and financial resources, manage projects and raise awareness of Handicap International\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s actions and campaigns.

Humanity & Inclusion - Lebanon

Emergency activities linked to the current crisis Handicap International (HI) is an international NGO with 30 years of experience and is currently active in 60 countries in both development and emergency contexts. HI has a permanent and experienced Emergency Response Division (ERD), comprised of two fields of expertise: Basic Needs (infrastructure rehabilitation and logistics facilitation) and specific needs (Disability & Vulnerability), providing multi-disciplinary and cross-sectorial humanitarian services. Thus the ERD has the ambition to comprehensively respond to the needs of vulnerable persons and communities affected by conflict, natural disasters or chronic emergencies. In Lebanon, HI is providing emergency relief to the most vulnerable persons within the provinces of Bekaa and North through the following activities: acronym a. Disability and Vulnerability Focal Point Project After a first round of assessment on March 2012, HI ERD is implementing since May 15th an emergency intervention for the most vulnerable people affected by the Syrian crisis, aiming at supporting persons with injuries and other vulnerable groups (persons with disability, elderly, pregnant women, unaccompanied children, persons with chronic diseases…). HI is one of the main organizations to address those specific needs through community outreach, and benefit from the trust of communities’ representatives, local stakeholders, authorities and other field implementing organizations. HI implements the following activities: At Hospital level: - Complementary provision of physical rehabilitation care at secondary level: provision of direct support, on-the-job training and accompaniment for local professionals - Provision of equipment and consumable to governmental hospitals' physiotherapy department (assistive and mobility devices) - Provision of support to persons in need of Prosthesis and Orthosis (P&O) appliances and provision of a specific follow up. At Community level: - Establishment of a community based identification, assessment and referral system, namely Disability & Vulnerability Focal Point (DVFP), to reach and provide services for persons with injuries and other particularly vulnerable persons - Provision of physical rehabilitation care at community level, assistive & mobility devices - Referral to relevant structures as per needed - Provision of psychosocial support to vulnerable persons and their families - Provision of on-the-job training and accompaniment of local NGO (community workers and manager) - Provision of support to persons in need of Prosthesis and Orthosis (P&O) appliances and provision of a specific follow up. - Mainstreaming of disability and vulnerability inclusion including through provision of training and technical support to stakeholders intervening at camp level in order to improve accessibility of camps facilities and inclusion in services provided b. Houses weather-proofing HI also addressed the seasonal increased vulnerabilities due to winter through the installation of weatherproofing kits for 710 vulnerable households affected by the Syrian crisis (including Syrian refugees, Lebanese returnees and extremely vulnerable host communities). c. Distribution: HI is distributing a standard NFI kit composed of mattresses, blankets, hygiene kit, baby kit and kitchen set as well as WFP food parcels to 2100 newcomers and most vulnerable households in the Bekaa. After home assessments of beneficiaries HI will setup, according to the vulnerability of the household, door to door distribution of their kits or small distribution points to facilitate access to this service. Mainly targeting newcomers, Handicap International will also provide through this project NFI kits to vulnerable households identified by their DVFP team. Presence in the country Lebanon Handicap International has been present in Lebanon since 1992. Handicap International works with several local associations that provide rehabilitation services and assistance to people with disabilities. In Lebanon, in addition to the regional project, HI Development Division has been implemented a project aiming at improving the access to mental health rehabilitation services for the children with psychological distress living in the Palestinian camps in North Lebanon and in the Tyre area in South Lebanon. The association has been especially active since the conflict broke out between the Israeli army and Hezbollah in 2006. Between 2007 and 2010, HI participated in clearance of zones contaminated by cluster munitions in South Lebanon (Tyre) and by explosive remnants of war in the Nahr el Bared Palestinian camp. In 2010, HI established the only humanitarian demining capacity in northern Lebanon (Batroun), region contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) dating back from the civil war in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The aim of the program is to improve the lives of mine affected populations by creating favorable conditions for socio-economic development, and to mitigate the threat of mines and UXO. Presence in the region HI has been present in the Middle East since 1987 through its Development Division and currently operates in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territory. Recently, after having implemented a regional project aiming at enforcing the disability movement, HI Development Division started from early April 2012 a new project in Jordan, Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories (Gaza and the West Bank). It aims at the recognition and respect of the rights of Persons with Disabilities by the authorities and institutions, through the reinforcement of the Disabled People's Organisations (DPO) and the disability movement at large. A more recently developed project target a better inclusion of persons with disabilities in the policy reform process at local, national and donors' levels.

Humanity & Inclusion- Iraq

Irak Handicap International continues to run a care and aid project for people with disabilities and their families in Iraq, in partnership with a local organisation. In northern Iraq, where the situation is more stable, Handicap International has organised an initiative to improve access to medical/social services over the long-term for people with disabilities and a project to raise the awareness of communities to the risks posed by mines and explosive devices. Lastly, the association is running a nationwide project, directly linked to regional projects, to build the capacities of disabled people's organisations.

Humanity & Inclusionl - Jordan