People with disabilities are generally forgotten or invisible in their uprooted communities. In many cases, the assistance and protection measures designed for the majority very rarely meet their specific needs.

People with disabilities are specifically vulnerable to physical, sexual and emotional abuse. The lack of privacy in some situations, such as a lack of access to latrines and bathing areas, increases the risk of abuse. People with disabilities are very often isolated from community life and may face difficulties accessing family tracing programmes.

Through its Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM) strategy, UNHCR works to identifying and attending to the specific needs of the disabled people within uprooted communities and to ensuring that they are included in the decision-making relating to the programming and planning of protection policies and activities. 

At the global level, the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR has included the principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities adopted at the end of 2006 in its operations as well as has joined the UN working group on disabilities.