A Restrictive Humanitarian Policy and the Wellbeing of the Disabled in Disasters in Kisumu County

Phitalis Were Masakhwe, Kennedy Onkware, Susan Kilonzo

Source Title: International Journal of Disaster Response and Emergency Management (IJDREM)3(2)

ISSN: 2572-4940|EISSN: 2572-4932|EISBN13: 9781799808725|DOI: 10.4018/IJDREM.20200701.oa1

MLA

Masakhwe, Phitalis Were, et al. "A Restrictive Humanitarian Policy and the Wellbeing of the Disabled in Disasters in Kisumu County." IJDREM vol.3, no.2 2020: pp.48-56. http://doi.org/10.4018/IJDREM.20200701.oa1

APA

Masakhwe, P. W., Onkware, K., & Kilonzo, S. (2020). A Restrictive Humanitarian Policy and the Wellbeing of the Disabled in Disasters in Kisumu County. International Journal of Disaster Response and Emergency Management (IJDREM), 3(2), 48-56. http://doi.org/10.4018/IJDREM.20200701.oa1

Chicago

Masakhwe, Phitalis Were, Kennedy Onkware, and Susan Kilonzo. "A Restrictive Humanitarian Policy and the Wellbeing of the Disabled in Disasters in Kisumu County," International Journal of Disaster Response and Emergency Management (IJDREM) 3, no.2: 48-56. http://doi.org/10.4018/IJDREM.20200701.oa1

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Abstract

This paper explores how PWD's well-being is realized in disaster situations in Kisumu County of Kenya. There is a significant population of 15,760 persons with disability across Kisumu County. Their well-being is protected by the international humanitarian policy. At the national level, the well-being of persons with disability is taken care of in the Disability Act 2003 and the National Disability Policy. Despite existence of a humanitarian policy framework, the well-being of the disabled is compromised in disaster situations within Kisumu County. The humanitarian policy framework limits humanitarian action to response, which compromises the well-being of PWD. The study employed semi-structured questionnaire instruments to gather information on humanitarian policies applicable to PWD in disaster context. From the key findings, the study concludes that the international humanitarian policies as well as national humanitarian policies are restrictive in nature. The policy lacks enforcement and implementation mechanisms to support the wellbeing of persons with disability in disasters.