ICRC’s physical rehabilitation and social inclusion initiatives - July 2026

The ICRC teams help people with disabilities, including those injured by conflict, walk again, regain independence, and rebuild their lives. Conflict and violence often leave people with life-changing injuries, while local health systems lack the capacity to provide long-term care. ICRC specialists and local partners are on the ground in rehabilitation centers across the world, fitting prostheses and orthoses, offering physiotherapy, and supplying wheelchairs and walking aids. We also make sure beneficiaries can access these services by covering their transport and accommodation costs, and we promote inclusion through vocational training, education, and disability sports. Wherever possible, our projects focus on strengthening national capacities, so that people with disabilities can count on high-quality rehabilitation services for years to come.

In 2025, 262,511 people worldwide received physical rehabilitation services through ICRC support. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the ICRC supported five physical rehabilitation centers with supplies and staff training, and covered transport and other costs for some service users. In Ethiopia, the ICRC supports 13 facilities providing physical rehabilitation services to around 12,430 people, supplying raw materials for assistive devices along with equipment and technical training for staff.

In South Sudan, the ICRC supports physical rehabilitation centers in Juba, Rumbek, and Wau with supplies, technical support, and staff training, helping provide mobility devices and other services to up to 4,100 people with disabilities. In Mali, in addition to providing components for assistive devices and subsidizing treatment costs, the ICRC works with partner organizations to advance social inclusion for people with disabilities through sports, education, and vocational training. In Togo, three ICRC-supported physical rehabilitation centers in Dapaong, Kara, and Lomé subsidize travel, accommodation, and food costs for the most vulnerable service users.

By working closely with local partners and relying on locally sourced materials, the ICRC is able to deliver physical rehabilitation services at the lowest possible cost while maintaining high quality. In many contexts, our teams fabricate assistive devices directly in ICRC‑supported workshops, using locally available components and tools. This approach reduces transport expenses, strengthens local expertise, and ensures that patients receive support quickly and reliably.

Because of this model, even modest contributions translate into concrete results. For example, 50 CHF covers the production of five pairs of crutches, and 100 CHF allows technicians to assemble four walking frames for patients who need additional balance support. With 330 CHF, a person with physical disabilities can receive tailor‑made rehabilitation services — including prostheses, orthoses, or wheelchairs — often manufactured or fitted on site.

In places where supply chains are disrupted, such as Gaza, our teams custom‑assemble wheelchairs for amputees or patients with spinal cord injuries for around 270 CHF. In Sudan, where hospital infrastructure has been heavily affected by conflict, approximately 600 CHF equips a ward with the basic tools needed to launch physiotherapy activities — items sourced locally whenever possible to ensure continuity and reduce costs.

This locally driven approach is what allows the ICRC to remain present, responsive, and cost‑effective in some of the world’s most challenging environments.

Thank you for your support and solidarity.