Online Reporter
Disability Issues
Dr Christine Peta
ON December 18, Zimbabwe will commemorate the United Nations International Migrants Day.
Migration has always been a defining feature of human history, shaping societies through the movement of people across borders.
But the experiences of migration and displacement of persons with disabilities reveal profound challenges, systemic exclusion and overlooked opportunities for inclusion.
Migrants with disabilities include those with congenital (from birth) disabilities, as well as those who acquire disabilities during migration.
Refugees fleeing war zones may suffer injuries from bombings, shootings or torture.
The Syrian civil war, for example, has resulted in many people acquiring disabilities from bombings, chemical attacks or torture.
Hospitals were destroyed and medical supplies became scarce.
Some families with persons with disabilities fled to neighbouring countries —Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan — to access treatment. Staying behind meant no access to rehabilitation, prosthetics or even basic medication.
Migration became the only way to preserve life and dignity.
Reports from Lebanon show Syrian refugees with spinal injuries or amputations struggling to access wheelchairs and rehabilitation, but migration at least gave them a chance to survive.
Crossing rivers and seas in overcrowded boats, walking long distances or hiding in trucks exposes migrants to falls, drowning, burns or crush injuries.
Road accidents are common when migrants travel in unsafe vehicles.
In some refugee camps or detention centres, unsanitary environments can lead to infections or diseases that cause disabilities.
Interrupted access to medication (for example, for diabetes, epilepsy or HIV) can result in complications leading to disability.
Lack of prenatal and maternal care can cause birth-related disabilities for children born during migration.
Women and girls with disabilities are at greater risk of sexual and gender-based violence during displacement, resulting in not only physical but also psycho-social disabilities.
These invisible psycho-social disabilities often affect the ability of migrants to integrate and thrive.
Older migrants may be physically dependent on others, thus increasing their vulnerability to neglect or exploitation.
They may also be perceived as “unproductive” beings, reinforcing exclusion from resettlement or integration programmes.
Worldwide, some immigration systems have been criticised for ableist rules that bar entry of persons with disabilities, framing them as economic burdens.
Disability activists have highlighted cases where families have been denied residency in some host countries, all because they have a child with Down syndrome.
Many migration surveys and humanitarian assessments fail to collect disability-disaggregated data.
Without accurate information, policymakers cannot design effective interventions, and migrants with disabilities remain invisible in statistics and strategies.
This invisibility perpetuates exclusion, as migration policies often assume that all migrants are persons without disabilities.
There is need to collect disability-disaggregated data in migration contexts.
Additionally, humanitarian aid, asylum processes and resettlement programmes must provide reasonable accommodations.
Policies must address the compounded vulnerabilities of women, children and older migrants with disabilities.
Migrants with disabilities must be included in decision-making processes that affect their lives.
The commitment of governments to upholding the international migration principle and the resilience of migrants with disabilities and advocacy demonstrate that inclusion is both possible and necessary.
Some nations, including Zimbabwe, now integrate disability inclusion into refugee camp design, ensuring accessible facilities and services.
Activists in some countries are pushing to dismantle ableist migration rules and highlight the voices of migrants with disabilities.
Indeed, as Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world in commemorating the UN International Migrants Day, let us all realise that disability is central to understanding vulnerability and resilience in human mobility.
By addressing data gaps, reforming exclusionary laws and ensuring accessibility, societies can move towards migration systems that uphold the dignity and rights for all, including for persons with disabilities.
When migration is managed safely and strategically, it can be a powerful force for good, fostering economic growth, cultural exchange and social cohesion by matching skills with opportunities. In a world defined by movement, no one should be left behind, including on the basis of disability.
Dr Christine Peta is a disability, public health, policy, international development and research expert. She can be contacted on developaf rica2020 @gmail. com
