The Ukraine-Russia war has brought widespread destruction and human suffering, but amidst the chaos, a particularly vulnerable group faces extraordinary challenges – people with disabilities. A recent report by Amnesty International sheds light on their plight, highlighting the difficulties they encounter in accessing shelters, obtaining adequate healthcare, and confronting the growing threat of institutionalization. The report underscores the failure of both Ukraine and Russia, despite their ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to effectively protect this vulnerable population.
The physical and logistical barriers created by the war have disproportionately affected people with disabilities, leaving many in desperate situations. The report states, “Amnesty International has found that two years since the full-scale invasion, shelters for displaced people in schools, kindergartens, and other public buildings were mostly still totally physically inaccessible to persons with disabilities. Administrators of these structures typically had no plans to make them physically accessible.” This lack of preparedness and the overwhelming circumstances have forced administrators to turn away people with disabilities, leaving them with no choice but to remain in their homes, where they face increased risks during attacks. The evacuation processes, often hastily arranged, lack the necessary accommodations for people with disabilities.
The war has not only displaced millions but also created an acute housing shortage, hitting people with disabilities particularly hard. Many who were displaced lost their adapted homes and support networks, making it extremely difficult for them to find accessible accommodations. Since the war began, there has been a surge in the institutionalization of older persons with disabilities. In February 2022, the Ukrainian government, partly in response to the mass displacement crisis, simplified the procedure for older persons and persons with disabilities to be admitted to state institutions. According to the Ministry of Social Policy, at least 4,000 older persons with disabilities were placed in state institutions between February and July 2022 alone. The report states, “In 2023, Amnesty International observed that this trend of placing older persons with disabilities in institutional care as a default response to their displacement continued unabated.” Numerous reports have documented how institutions for persons with disabilities in Ukraine are insufficiently staffed to support people with disabilities, leaving them at a higher risk of neglect or abuse.
The Ukraine-Russia war has starkly revealed the precarious existence of people with disabilities in conflict zones. Despite international conventions and local efforts, the reality on the ground remains dire. The Ukrainian government, grappling with the immense strain of war, lacks the resources to adequately address the complex needs of this vulnerable population. As the conflict continues, the situation for people with disabilities is likely to deteriorate further, with inadequate shelter, insufficient support services, and a failing social care system.
