THE IMPACT OF THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES HOUSEHOLDS IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH: A CAPABILITY APPROACH FROM SIERRA LEONE
Abstract
Purpose of Study: This research aims to quantify the impacts of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war on households, particularly those with persons with disabilities (PwDs), in Sierra Leone. It investigates how the war affects PwD households more significantly than non-PwD households and how these effects contribute to increased vulnerability and poverty.
Statement of Problem: Existing literature has largely ignored the specific vulnerabilities of PwD households during crises like the Russia-Ukraine war, focusing instead on macroeconomic impacts or treating all households as homogenous. This study seeks to address this gap by examining the channels through which the war affects PwD households in Sierra Leone.
Methodology: The study employs Sen’s capability approach as the framework to assess the war’s impact on PwD households. Data was collected by Statistics Sierra Leone from November 2022 to January 2023, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), involving 5,760 households. Percentages, Chi-Square, and Diffusion Index were used to analyze the dataset.
Result: The study found that the Russia-Ukraine war has significantly reduced the capabilities of PwD households to function and achieve their goals through the following channels: worsening employment outcomes, increased food insecurity, harmful coping strategies, and a decline in social network support. This has heightened the risk of vulnerability and poverty among these households.
Conclusion: The paper concludes that the Russia-Ukraine war has disproportionately impacted PwD households in Sierra Leone, exacerbating their vulnerability to poverty. The reduction in their capabilities to function effectively has worsened their overall well-being.
Recommendation: The study recommends targeted social protection support for PwD households, including food assistance and support for micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), to shield them from the lingering impacts of the war-induced inflation and economic slowdown.
Keywords: Persons with disabilities, Russia-Ukraine war, household, capability approach, impact
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