Disabled people and their vulnerability and challenges in disaster situation-case study: Study of Disability in Tehran City with emphasize on womans

More than one million Iranians live with a disability. Research has shown that people with disabilities are more vulnerable to disasters. The lack of knowledge and awareness, as well as accurate information and comprehensive statistical data on people with disabilities, is one of the major challenges in the first few days of the disaster, which leads to inaccurate programming and more vulnerability. Global assemblies have paid special attention to disability. Out of the 17 goals of sustainable development, 5 targets are for disabled people, which should be considered in all indicators of sustainable development goals. The purpose of this research is to provide information on various types of disabilities in the city of Tehran and their challenges, especially in times of disaster, in order to address the situation of these people based on the goals of sustainable development with awareness and recognition.

The present research is descriptive-analytic. In this study, statistics on various types of disabilities were extracted from the Iranian Statistical Center and then processed in the GIS software environment. The statistical indicators of this study include people with sensory disabilities (people with blind, deaf and deaf status, speech impairment), people with physical disabilities (people with a defect in the trunk, hand or foot) and people with mental disabilities (people with different mental disabilities). In order to calculate the total index, the sensory, physical and mental indices were calculated first with the same weighting statistics. Subsequently, the total disability index was calculated as the sum of sub-indices. Finally zoning conducted with geometrical interval method in GIS environment and determined prioritized regions.

One of the most important planning needs for this vulnerable group in the pre disaster period is to know their demographic distribution and knowledge of their needs at times of disaster, such as emergency evacuation, camps, emergency accommodation and food distribution, access Residential facilities and auxiliary facilities as well as after-care needs include those that need to be considered during reconstruction, recovery, and rehabilitation. In view of the importance of these needs and planning for its provision, the situation of the people with disability in Tehran (total people with various disabilities, speech, physical, blind, deaf and mentally handicapped) and the problems of each group of people with disabilities, with the distribution of them by gender in the city Tehran were investigated.

For the purpose of comprehensive disaster management planning and risk reduction programs to meet the needs and minimize the damage to this demographic group, final priority was drawn based on the total index of disability with emphasis on women. Based on the results of this prioritization, Region 4, Region 1, Region 2, and Region 5 were determined for critical disaster management planning and educational capacity building respectively.