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Climate change, water security, and disability inclusion research in Vietnam

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Version 2 2024-10-06, 00:19
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posted on 2024-10-06, 00:19 authored by Kien Nguyen-TrungKien Nguyen-Trung, Michael SimonMichael Simon, Thi Huyen Do, Thi Thu Thuy Trinh, Diu Thi Le, Phuong Anh Nguyen, Giang Hong Nguyen, Jenny Flynn

Funded by the Australian Water Partnership and delivered through a collaboration between Water Sensitive Cities Australia (WSCA) and the Hanoi Association of People with Disabilities (DP Hanoi), this report explores the vulnerabilities and challenges faced by people with disabilities (PwDs) in Vietnam in relation to climate change, water insecurity and disasters. It underscores a critical gap in disaster and climate vulnerability and resilience building for PwDs, highlighting the need for inclusive policies and practices that address their unique needs and circumstances.

We conducted a co-design research involving carrying out a rapid evidence review of scholarly research in Scopus and Google Scholar databases, 6 key informant interviews with experts and leaders at a national level, 20 key informant interviews with local stakeholders including commune authorities, socio-political organisations, local organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), and 52 semi-structured interviews with PwDs (of which 22 were female) in Nghe An province (n=27) and Hanoi (n=25). Interviews with PwDs aimed to understand the lived experiences of 4 different types of disabilities including mobility, vision, hearing and intellectual disabilities.

Climate change, disasters, and water insecurity affect all aspects of the lives of PwDs from physical and mental health to evacuation, social inclusion, and livelihood recovery. They possess limited capacity to prepare for, cope with, and recover from adversities, which underscores their inherent vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities stem from the absence of disability-inclusive policies, the failure to engage PwDs and their organisations in disaster risk management, limited access to clean water (particularly in rural areas), inadequate infrastructure, and minimal support for livelihoods.

Funding

The Australian Water Partnership

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