Staff describe what families need
Evan Cowo, the centre’s community rehabilitation manager, highlighted accessible bathrooms, suitable beds and wheelchair-accessible evacuation transport. Executive director Jocelyn Lopez described the centre’s adapted vans and buses, accessible bathrooms and usable space. National emergency coordinator Daniel Mendez explained that many shelters were schools or other buildings originally designed for different purposes. [1]
Children and families to inform policy
Six days earlier, the human development ministry and UNICEF had announced work on a situation analysis of children with disabilities. Planned consultations included children, families and community stakeholders. Minister Dolores Balderamos Garcia linked the exercise to identifying barriers and developing policies that support children’s participation.
Protection planning across institutions
UNICEF’s 2023 country report had already recorded an agreement and workplan with the ministry responsible for disaster risk management. The cooperation included putting a regional child protection protocol into practice during emergencies. Novelo’s commentary called for this policy work to translate into accessible facilities and evacuation arrangements. [1]