The NGO League of the Strong conducted a survey on how power cuts affect the lives of people with disabilities in Ukraine. The results showed the negative impact of power cuts on the health, comfort and psycho-emotional state of the group surveyed. This was reported by Daria Sydorenko, executive director of the NGO League of the Strong.
“Regular power cuts significantly worsen the quality of life of people with disabilities and pose a risk to their health. People cannot properly store medicines that require refrigeration, or use necessary medical equipment such as inhalers or cochlear implants. That is why we need to work with international partners to find solutions to provide people with disabilities with equipment and resources to adapt to possible crisis situations,” said Daria Sydorenko, Executive Director of the League of the Strong.
Both people with disabilities and people who care for people with disabilities participated in the survey. These groups represented all regions of Ukraine and various age groups.
The survey results highlighted several key issues:
- Nearly 89% of respondents reported a deterioration in their psycho-emotional state, including increased stress and anxiety due to the power outage, and 45% reported a loss of communication with the outside world.
- Power outages put the lives of people with disabilities at risk. 22% of respondents reported difficulties using medical equipment needed to maintain their health. There are also problems storing medicines that require refrigeration, such as insulin.
- Lack of lighting, loss of communication, and problems with heating and water supply are among the main problems for people with disabilities during power outages. There are also difficulties in cooking or storing food.
- Mobility for people with disabilities is significantly reduced due to the inability to use elevators. This makes it much more difficult to access necessary resources and services.
The League of the Strong team has already shared its findings with international partners. They will be used in a joint UN submission to the Human Rights Committee. The findings will also be included in ongoing monitoring of the impact of power outages on human rights.
The full version of the analytical note “How power cuts affect the lives of persons with disabilities in Ukraine” is available here.