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In Syria, more than 12 years of conflict, infrastructure deterioration, and displacement have left millions exposed to injury and trauma. In the early hours of February 6, 2023, a devastating earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck southern Turkey and northern Syria, resulting in thousands of deaths and thousands of injuries in Turkey and northwestern Syria. The death toll in northwestern Syria is 4,540, and the number of injuries is 8,786, with many of the injured losing limbs or becoming disabled. All these factors increase the risk of disability and undermine access to essential services and support. The Aid Coordination Unit (ACU) has adapted the Washington Disability Statistics Question Group, the most widely used and tested tool in humanitarian settings, with technical support from humanitarian partners specializing in disability assistance (Hope Revival Organization and MIDAD Organization), pivoting away from traditional surveys of only physical illnesses and functioning to properly determine the prevalence of disability. The assessment has been expanded to define difficulties and disabilities, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), as the interaction between an individual’s impairment and their experience of attitudinal, institutional and physical barriers that limit their participation in the community and their access to services.
The ACU has made it a priority to include data on persons with disabilities in all relevant household surveys, which has significantly improved the availability and quality of data on persons with disabilities in Syria. The analysis will also assess key socio-economic indicators to determine the extent to which persons with disabilities limit the ability of individuals or households with persons with disabilities to withstand social and economic barriers.
The children with difficulties and disabilities who participated in the study were asked about the common obstacles they faced in gaining formal education. The questionnaire focused on their reasons for school enrolment and interruption of their education.
The report presents findings at the local level for individuals (aged 2 and above) and for households with disabled people. Prevalence figures are further compared with key socio-economic indicators to show the extent to which the presence of a disability may increase or exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.