The recent earthquake affecting Turkey and Syria has caused severe loss of life, injured many more and disrupted thousands of lives.

Children with disabilities and their families are some of the most vulnerable to such disruptive events, and there will be many who will be directly affected by the earthquakes in eastern Turkey and northern Syria. There are also a number of children and young people who have sustained critical life-changing injuries from the earthquake with long term rehabilitation needs.

The members of the International Alliance of Academies of Childhood Disability (IAACD) call on the governments and all agencies to prioritize the needs of the children with disabilities. We extend our support to all those who have been affected by this devastating event.