Building Back for All: Syria's Future Hinges on Including its Millions with Disabilities

 Building Back for All: Syria's Future Hinges on Including its Millions with Disabilities

Syria – The dust still settles uneasily on streets once vibrant, now deeply scarred by over a decade of conflict. For countless Syrians, the physical and mental wounds of war are a daily reality. Among them is Omar, a former carpenter in his late 40s from Homs, who now navigates his partially rebuilt neighbourhood with a prosthetic leg – a stark reminder of the shelling that changed his life. "Rebuilding the stones is one thing," he says, gesturing towards a nearby construction site, "but rebuilding lives, especially for those of us who carry the war on our bodies and in our minds, that's the real challenge. Will there be a place for us in the new Syria?"

Omar’s question echoes across a nation where an estimated 17 to 30 percent of the population now lives with some form of disability, a figure catastrophically inflated by years of brutal conflict and, more recently, the devastating 2023 earthquake. As Syria stands at a precarious crossroads, the opportunity to "build back better" is not just about infrastructure, but about forging a society that leaves no one behind. International calls for disability inclusion in humanitarian and reconstruction efforts are growing louder, but translating these into tangible change on the ground in Syria is a monumental task, yet one critical for sustainable peace and recovery.

Historically, persons with disabilities (PWDs) have been an afterthought in post-conflict scenarios. However, a global shift is underway. The UN Secretary-General has starkly noted that armed conflict "aggravates existing disabilities and causes new ones." This recognition fueled milestones like the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit’s Charter on Disability Inclusion and the UN Security Council's Resolution 2475 in 2019, which specifically mandates the protection and consideration of PWDs' unique needs in conflict zones. These frameworks underscore a vital truth: inclusive reconstruction is not mere charity, but a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of equitable recovery, social cohesion, and economic vitality.

The Scars of Conflict: A Nation Grappling with Widespread Disability

Syria's war, raging since 2011, has inflicted an almost unimaginable toll. Conservative estimates suggest over 400,000 killed and more than a million injured by 2025. The nature of the injuries is often severe, with an exceptionally high number of amputations and spinal cord damage. As early as 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Humanity & Inclusion (HI) reported 1.5 million Syrians living with permanent disabilities, including 86,000 amputees, a number that has only grown.

Consider 12-year-old Layla from Idlib. She lost her hearing during an airstrike two years ago. In her overcrowded classroom in a displacement camp, she struggles to keep up. "The words just disappear," she signs to a visiting aid worker. "I want to learn, but it's so hard when the world is silent." Her story is a microcosm of the challenges faced by children with disabilities, often denied education and specialized support.

Beyond visible injuries, the conflict has unleashed a torrent of less apparent disabilities. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) from explosions are common, leading to lasting cognitive, memory, and personality changes. Chronic pain is a pervasive companion for many survivors. The mental health crisis is staggering; Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reports widespread PTSD, anxiety, and depression, even rising suicide rates, particularly in besieged Northwest Syria. Vision and hearing loss due to shrapnel, chemical exposure, or simply the deafening sounds of war have become silent epidemics.

The scale is immense. The 2024 Humanitarian Needs Overview for Syria estimates that of the 16.7 million people needing aid, approximately 2.8 million (17%) are PWDs. Humanity & Inclusion, factoring in broader mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) needs, suggests figures as high as 28-30%. This starkly contrasts with pre-war official statistics of a mere 1.5% disability prevalence, highlighting the conflict's devastating role as a mass disabling event.

Compounding this, over 7.2 million Syrians are internally displaced, and 6.3 million are refugees. They face a decimated infrastructure: only about 60% of hospitals are functional, many deliberately targeted. The February 2023 earthquake further exacerbated this crisis, adding thousands of new injuries and rendering more infrastructure inaccessible. And the danger is ongoing, fields and roads littered with landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) continue to maim and kill, particularly returnees and children. The ICRC's Erbil rehabilitation centre in neighbouring Iraq treated 8,651 amputees between 1996 and 2024, over 60% due to war, mainly mines, a grim sign for Syria.

Pre-existing disabilities have also been critically worsened. Individuals with chronic illnesses or disabilities before 2011 have been cut off from care, medication, and assistive devices, turning manageable conditions into life-threatening crises.

What Disability-Inclusive Reconstruction Demands

Disability-inclusive reconstruction is a paradigm shift. It means ensuring that every rebuilt home, school, clinic, and livelihood opportunity is accessible and usable by everyone, including those with physical, sensory, intellectual, or psychosocial disabilities. This rights-based approach aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which Syria ratified in 2009, legally obliging the state to uphold these rights even amidst crisis.

Practically, this involves:

• Universal Design: Incorporating features like wheelchair ramps, wide doorways, accessible toilets, braille signage, clear visual cues for cognitive disabilities, and audible signals at crossings from the outset.
• Barrier-Free Environments: Ensuring accessible transport and communication systems.
• Meaningful Participation: Crucially, PWDs and their representative organizations (DPOs) must be involved at every stage – from planning and design to implementation and monitoring. The principle of "nothing about us without us" is paramount.
• Data and Budgeting: Collecting disability-disaggregated data to understand needs, and allocating dedicated budgets for assistive devices, access modifications, and specialized services.

The UNDP’s Syria program, supported by Finland, offers a glimpse of what's possible. By 2024, it had equipped over 4,000 Syrians with assistive devices and created 1,500 jobs for PWDs, demonstrating that targeted efforts yield tangible results.

Lessons from Around the Globe

Syria doesn't have to reinvent the wheel. Globally, the understanding and practice of disability inclusion in post-conflict settings have matured:

• Afghanistan: The ICRC’s Physical Rehabilitation Programme, active since 1987, has provided mobility aids and therapy to hundreds of thousands, alongside vocational training. It showcases the impact of sustained investment and integrated support.
• Iraq: Post-conflict efforts focused on demining alongside building robust rehabilitation centres, a dual approach vital for Syria.
• Balkans (Bosnia and Herzegovina): Following its war, the focus on social policies like disability pensions and community-based rehabilitation (CBR) offers valuable lessons in integrating support into public health.
• Rwanda: Post-genocide, strong domestic policy leadership, coupled with DPO involvement, led to accessible infrastructure and inclusive education initiatives.
• Nepal (2015 Earthquake): This disaster response highlighted the importance of PWD consultation in rebuilding, ensuring accessible shelters and revising building codes.

These examples underscore a common thread: success hinges on genuine consultation with PWDs, early investment in accessibility, and integrating rehabilitation with broader development.

Pathways to an Inclusive Syria: Strategies and Hurdles

Building an inclusive Syria requires a multi-pronged strategy:

1. Accessible Physical Reconstruction: All new and repaired infrastructure – homes, schools, clinics, roads – must adhere to universal design principles. This isn't a luxury, but a necessity. Shelter kits for displaced families should include materials for ramps and accessible sanitation.
2. Inclusive Social Protection & Livelihoods: Cash and food aid must account for the extra costs PWDs incur. Vocational training, like the tailoring classes adapted for amputees in the UNDP-Finland project, and support for PWD-run cooperatives are crucial for economic empowerment.
3. Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR): Taking rehabilitation to people's homes and communities, using trained local workers (often PWDs themselves), can overcome access barriers to clinics and combat stigma.
4. Strengthening Rights and Legal Frameworks: Syria’s Law No. 19 (2024) on PWDs is a step, but robust implementation, resourcing, and enforcement are vital. International partners should advocate for disability inclusion in all national reconstruction plans.
5. Data-Driven and Coordinated Action: Reliable, disaggregated data is essential for planning and monitoring. A dedicated Disability Task Team within the humanitarian system can drive cross-sectoral inclusion.
6. Meaningful Participation – The Cornerstone: This means more than token consultations. It requires:
• Accessible Meetings: Ensuring PWDs can physically attend planning sessions and receive information in accessible formats (sign language, Braille, easy-read).
• Representation in Committees: Integrating PWDs into local governance and reconstruction bodies.
• PWD-Led Needs Assessments: Leveraging their lived experiences to identify true needs and barriers.
• Advisory & Technical Roles: Employing PWDs as experts in designing inclusive solutions.
• Empowered Monitoring: Enabling DPOs to track progress and hold actors accountable.

However, the path is fraught with barriers:

• Ongoing Insecurity: Conflict in some regions restricts access for aid workers and PWDs needing services.
• Deep-Seated Stigma: Societal prejudice can lead to isolation and denial of opportunities. Awareness campaigns and training for humanitarian staff are essential.
• Critical Funding Gaps: Disability inclusion is consistently underfunded in humanitarian appeals. The estimated $267 million needed for disability-specific aid in Syria for 2025 is far from secured.
• Fragmented Governance & Policy Coherence: Lack of coordination between government bodies and the complexities of international sanctions can hinder efforts.

The Way Forward: A Call to Conscience and Action

The reconstruction of Syria offers a generational opportunity to rectify past oversights and build a truly inclusive society. For individuals like Omar, Layla, and millions of others, this isn't an abstract policy discussion; it's about their future, their dignity, and their ability to contribute to their nation's revival.

"I don't want pity," Omar states firmly, adjusting his prosthetic. "I want a ramp into the bakery, a chance to learn a new trade, and for my children to see that their father, despite everything, can still build something."

International donors, humanitarian agencies, and Syrian authorities at all levels must make disability inclusion a non-negotiable priority. This means dedicated funding, mainstreaming accessibility across all sectors, robustly supporting Syrian DPOs, and ensuring that reconstruction plans are co-designed with those most affected.

Building back for all is not only a moral imperative protected in international law; it is a logical necessity for Syria’s long-term stability and prosperity. An inclusive Syria will be a stronger, more resilient Syria. The time to commit to this vision, with concrete actions and unwavering resolve, is now. The alternative is to condemn a significant portion of its population to the margins, perpetuating cycles of vulnerability and hindering the nation's journey towards a lasting peace.

About the Author: Tahir Ali Shah is a humanitarian professional with over 20 years of experience managing protection and development programs across South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. He has worked extensively in refugee response, child protection, and humanitarian advocacy. He can be reached at tshaha@gmail.com