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The European Disability Forum (EDF) calls for all actors to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities impacted by the Nagorno-Karabakh crisis.

"Actors must respect:

• Their obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, in particular Article 11 on situations of risk and humanitarian emergencies.

• the UN Security Council Resolution 2475 (2019) on Protection of Persons with Disabilities in Conflict.

• International Humanitarian Law, International Refugee Law, and the Humanitarian Principles," EDF said in an open letter to the international community. 

"In any situation of crisis or conflict, persons with disabilities face disproportionate risk of abandonment, violence, death, and a lack of access to safety, relief, and recovery support. Women with disabilities are at increased risk of sexual violence. Children with disabilities are more exposed to abuse and neglect. Crucial information on safety and evacuation is often inaccessible, and evacuation locations themselves are also rarely accessible, meaning that persons with disabilities are too often left behind.

"According to the UN Refugees Agency, more than 100,000 refugees have arrived in Armenia between 24 September and 4 October 2023. The agency reports that “many of the new arrivals are vulnerable, including older people, women and children, pregnant women, people living with disabilities and people chronic health conditions...”.

"According to information made available to the European Disability Forum, there were issues with the evacuation of persons with disabilities, which created disproportionate barriers for them and their families. We also understood that persons with disabilities who did evacuate are unable to find accessible accommodation, and are being placed in residential institutions or sleeping in rough, inadequate and precarious arrangements. In all such situations, risk of violence, abuse and death highly increases," reads the letter.

Commenting on the situation, EDF President Yannis Vardakastanis said: “Persons with disabilities in or fleeing from Nagorno-Karabakh are at great risk of abandonment, abuse and even death. They cannot be left behind, and that is why we call on governments and aid agencies to fulfil their responsibilities and ensure that persons with disabilities are fully protected, supported and involved in all decision-making processes.”