The inaccessibility of evacuation centers during natural disasters is always a concern for people with disabilities.

Disabled Peoples Federation Manager Lanieta Tuimabu says a classic example was Tropical Cyclone Winston where only 25 percent of people with disabilities had access to evacuation centers.

Tuimabu says the Federation is now working with the National Disaster Management Office, and other organizations to address the issue.

“One was the inaccessibility of the infrastructure, and the schools, the community and the transportation to the location, where the evacuation centers are some it’s too far, so there was also safety risks.”

Tuimabu says they’ve been invited to be part of the natural disaster management act review to help address the needs of people with disabilities during natural disasters.

The Federation is also working with relevant stakeholders to include youths in helping people with disabilities during natural disasters.