The Commission is committed to inclusive humanitarian action that addresses the specific needs of people with disabilities. These needs have been mainstreamed in several policy areas such as protection, forced displacement, health and shelter and development and in EU-funded humanitarian aid operations. In 2016-2017, the Commission provided targeted funding for actions to support persons with disabilities for a total amount of approximately EUR 30 million. The Commission is currently working on the measures announced by Commissioner Stylianides on 6 December 2017[1] and aims to have them in place for the Humanitarian Implementation Plans of 2019.

The Commission assesses on a constant basis the evolving needs of people regarding humanitarian assistance, and gives a particular attention to the most vulnerable.

In the specific case of Uganda, where more than 80% of refugees are women and children under 18, the Commission intervention has a strong protection component. It includes actions aiming at addressing sexual and gender based violence, from prevention/awareness-raising to case management and legal support and child protection. Several of the ongoing or planned actions in the country cover the health sector or the out-of-school children, with an emphasis on the needs of persons with special vulnerabilities, one of the categories being persons with disabilities in compliance with the principle of impartiality[2].

When addressing the needs of the refugees, the Commission ensures that surrounding host communities, sharing very often the same vulnerabilities, are included in the humanitarian response.

• [1] https://ec.europa.eu/echo/news/eu-announces-new-measures-support-people-disabilities-crises_en
• [2] Humanitarian action must be carried out on the basis of need alone, giving priority to the most urgent cases of distress and making no distinctions on the basis of nationality, race, gender, religious belief, class or political opinions.