UNHCR Handbook for Emergencies - UNHCR eCentre

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actly what degree of protection and care will
be available.
66. Community services, protection and
health staff must work together for survivors
of rape and sexual violence. Protection staff
can provide information on legal action and
monitor the legal process if charges are
pressed. Health personnel should make necessary
treatment facilities and documentation
available. Community services should work directly
with the survivor concerned, and with
the family of the survivor, as well as establish
support groups and more generally sensitize
refugees to the problems of rape. A refugee
team, which could complement the UNHCR
community services team, may be established
to provide outreach to women reluctant to
come forward.
Disabled and Handicapped
67. Disabled and handicapped persons
might have problems in accessing goods and
services available to refugees and steps must
be taken to ensure this access, including that
of disabled children to whatever schooling is
available. In some refugee situations, but
more often in returnee situations, additional
dangers of land-mines mean that an information
campaign must be started immediately to
prevent further disability. Initial care for the
disabled should be through families and the
community, nevertheless, rehabilitation services
(e.g. wheelchairs, crutches) should also
be introduced as soon as possible. Community
based rehabilitation to care for disabled
people is an approach that should be promoted
from the outset of an emergency.
Older Persons
68. The presence of older people in the
community can strengthen the bonds and
the sense of belonging. However, physical deterioration
may limit their mobility and hence
their access to basic services. Those most
at risk are living alone or caring for young
children.
Older persons can constitute a significant
proportion of the refugee population though
they are often overlooked.
69. Consideration should be given to include
older persons in the supplementary feeding
programmes. Even if older people can obtain
food rations, limited mobility may preclude
collection of water or fuel essential for food
preparation.
70. For the more frail elderly, family and community
care should be encouraged. Refugee
community workers should identify neighbours,
relatives or others who can help these
people with food, water or fuel collection.
71. It should be kept in mind that after any
repatriation, the elderly may make up a high
proportion of refugees remaining behind in
the country of asylum. Hence local government
structures and local NGO capacity should
be strengthened to care for them.
Isolated Social Groups
72. Every society has its social, religious,
political or ethnic groups whose access to
services is restricted even under normal conditions.
They become particularly vulnerable during
emergencies as assistance is likely to be
channelled through the leaders of the majority
groups. Immediate assessment should be made
of any of these groups to determine if they can
be integrated into the refugee community, or
whether special provision must be made.
In the early stages of an emergency, cultural
and traditional customs that may be harmful
to particular groups of refugees such as genital
mutilation, early marriages and other abusive
practices should be addressed and appropriate
action taken.
Education
◆ Education programmes can help address
not only the psychological and social needs
of the children, but also the well being of
the whole community, by helping to organize
the population and by providing structure
for the children and their families;
◆ Education programmes can provide important
support to lifesaving activities;
◆ Every child has the right to education. Even
in an emergency, start providing appropriate
education as soon as possible;
◆ The priority is to make primary schooling
available to all. Special efforts will probably
be necessary to ensure the proper participation
of girls in the programme;
◆ Refugee schools should be organized and
run by the refugees themselves, to the extent
possible, with proper outside support.
Introduction
73. Establishing an education system is important
for the well-being of the whole
refugee community, as well as for the social