Humanity & Inclusion works alongside people with disabilities, survivors of disaster in 60 countries

Longini, 9, is supported by Humanity & Inclusion and our local partners in Rwanda. Born with a disability, Longini is enrolled in an inclusive school. He also receives rehabilitation care and new artificial limbs as he grows. Copyright: S. Wohlfahrt/HI

Humanity & Inclusion has been providing inclusive humanitarian aid since 1982, when our co-founders encountered thousands of Cambodian refugees with landmine injuries in refugee camps along the Thai border. Fleeing civil war, these injured people were often left without even a crutch to lean on after doctors had patched their wounds, and sent them into the teeming camps. To combat this injustice, two doctors set up workshops to produce braces and artificial limbs from locally-sourced materials for landmine survivors. Humanity & Inclusion was born. 

The outrage that fueled Humanity & Inclusion’s earliest work continues to power actions, today in more than 60 countries. Action that reached more than 3.1 million people in 2021. Action that would be impossible without support from our generous donors.  

An independent and impartial aid organization, Humanity & Inclusion operates in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. We work alongside people with disabilities and populations experiencing situations of extreme hardship, taking action and bearing witness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

In all places and things—from providing at-home physical therapy to people injured by explosive weapons in Afghanistan, to supporting refugees in Colombia, to delivering emergency aid to people impacted by crises in Ukraine and Pakistan—Humanity & Inclusion advocates for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities.

Our global team counts 4,755 staff. Together, we work to ensure that survivors of natural disasters and conflict receive the support they need to rebuild their lives; children with disabilities thrive at inclusive schools; refugees are given aid and care; and communities learn to spot and avoid dangerous, unexploded weapons.

Co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for our role in helping to ratify a near-universal Mine Ban Treaty, Humanity & Inclusion has also been internationally recognized for technological innovations in telerehabilitation, 3D-printing of orthopedic braces, and the use of drones in demining operations.

Galaina Mama Gala, 87, fled Ukraine in the early days of the conflict. Humanity & Inclusion’s emergency responses always focus first on people with disabilities, aging individuals and their families. Copyright: T. Nicholson/HI

Delivering emergency aid

Notably, Humanity & Inclusion’s teams are currently responding to two major crises: armed conflict in Ukraine and catastrophic flooding in Pakistan.

Teams in Ukraine & Moldova include experts in rehabilitation, logistics, mental health and psychosocial support, basic needs, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities and older people. 

“We are helping people with disabilities who are often forgotten in crisis situations, and can have a hard time reaching safety,” explains Jérémie Zahorski, who coordinates Humanity & Inclusion’s programs in Chernivtsi, Ukraine. “For example, how do you flee fighting when you are in a wheelchair? When you are Deaf or hard of hearing, how are you alerted to an air raid siren? For people with learning disabilities, is information on humanitarian aid or evacuation adapted to your needs?

In addition to providing specialized rehabilitation services, psychosocial support and cash distribution, among other initiatives, Humanity & Inclusion is distributing assistive mobility devices such as wheelchairs, canes and walkers. A mobile mental health team is visiting centers housing displaced people. Humanity & Inclusion is working alongside fellow actors responding to the emergency to help implement inclusive humanitarian aid and ensure that populations experiencing the most vulnerability can access vital resources.

In Lviv, our rehabilitation specialists are caring for patients recovering from burns and/or amputations, as well as training physical therapists on treating conflict-related injuries. In eastern Ukraine, where the needs are greatest, our teams are distributing mobility devices and hygiene supplies.

In Pakistan, powerful monsoon rains left one-third of the country under water. Working in Pakistan since the early 1980s, Humanity & Inclusion's teams are getting food and basic household goods, such as hygiene supplies, blankets and kitchen items, into the hands of people who have lost everything. We’re also deploying psychological first aid teams to assess the needs of people displaced from their homes, and provide assistance. 

“We’re seeing families that have lost absolutely everything and are living amid floodwaters,” Caroline Duconseille, Humanity & Inclusion’s country manager in Pakistan, reported in August. “Our initial focus is meeting the most urgent needs of impacted communities, including access to food and daily essentials such as soap, cooking supplies and warm blankets.”

After emergencies disappear from the headlines or social media feeds, Humanity & Inclusion continues to carry out long-term, sustainable, community-centered responses.

Humanity & Inclusion staff and volunteers teach people how to spot, avoid and report explosive weapons contamination. Here, a student participated in an awareness session at a school in Laos. Copyright: N. Lozano Juez/HI

Financial integrity

For 40 years, donors have trusted Humanity & Inclusion to ensure that no one is left in the shadows. We honor that trust by providing transparent financial reporting.

Generous, private donors give Humanity & Inclusion the autonomy to help communities the moment they need assistance. A range of institutions, including USAID, the U.S. Department of State, United Nations agencies, foundations and other government partners make up the balance, providing a diverse source of funding for our work in 60 countries. For every $100 spent by Humanity & Inclusion, $85 goes directly to social missions. Fundraising expenses and administrative costs account for $9 and $6, respectively. Humanity & Inclusion U.S. is rated 3-stars with Charity Navigator, receiving 89.18 out of 100 points. Learn more about Humanity & Inclusion at www.hi-us.org.

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