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One in three refugee households owns no phone at all. For the 17.6 million displaced people with disabilities worldwide, this digital gap isn’t just inconvenient—it’s potentially deadly.
The Numbers Tell the Story
The Women’s Refugee Commission’s 2024 data reveals a stark reality: refugees with disabilities face systematic barriers to mobile phone ownership that compound their existing vulnerabilities. While humanitarian agencies increasingly rely on digital channels to distribute aid information, warnings, and services, 29% of refugee households remain completely disconnected. For people with disabilities, who often require specialised support and face additional mobility challenges, phone access becomes even more critical.
When Crisis Meets Disability
A refugee with a visual impairment needs audio updates about food distribution times. A wheelchair user requires accessible transport information. A person with epilepsy must track medication availability. Without phone connectivity, these essential communications never reach them. The digital divide transforms manageable challenges into insurmountable barriers, leaving millions without the tools to navigate displacement.
Credit Where It’s Needed Most
Mobile phone ownership means nothing without credit to make calls or access data. CFH addresses this precise gap by sending free phone credit directly to refugees with disabilities. Our approach recognises that connectivity isn’t luxury—it’s survival infrastructure. When displaced adults with disabilities can contact support services, check aid schedules, or reach emergency help, they gain agency over their circumstances. Applications are open for refugees with disabilities who need phone credit support.