Association Demands Urgent Action for Deaf Individuals in Humanitarian Crises

The Abuja Association of the Deaf (AAD) has demanded urgent action on the dire situation faced by deaf individuals during humanitarian crises.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Ayoade Beyioku-alase on Tuesday to commemorate the World Humanitarian Day, the Association notes that despite having an estimated ten million Deaf people in Nigeria, the community continues to be disproportionately affected by disasters, conflicts, and other emergencies.

“Deaf individuals are often the last to receive life-saving information, aid, and support due to systemic barriers in communication.

“Despite Nigeria’s Disability Act of 2018 and Nigeria’s ratification of the UNCRPD, these rights remain largely unfulfilled for Deaf people.”

The Association demands immediate and tangible actions from humanitarian actors and government agencies, calling on humanitarian organizations to implement mandatory deaf-inclusive training for all personnel, provide qualified sign language interpreters at all levels of response, and utilize accessible communication channels, including SMS, visual alerts, and social media platforms with sign language or captioning.

The Association also urges the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to develop comprehensive deaf-inclusive emergency response plans, including evacuation procedures and shelter management. It also urges the Agency to allocate dedicated funding for Deaf and sign language interpretation services and assistive technology, establish a Deaf Advisory Committee to inform decision-making and monitor implementation, and conduct regular assessments of the needs and experiences of deaf individuals in humanitarian contexts.

“We appeal to His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to appoint a dedicated Minister for Humanitarian Affairs who will prioritize the inclusion of deaf individuals in all emergency response efforts. By working together, we can ensure that no Deaf person is left behind in times of crisis.” The Association said.