Is it even possible for a blind person to find a bomb shelter independently?

During an air raid alert, it’s crucial to act quickly: gather your essentials, locate the nearest shelter, take cover behind two walls or go underground. Many people rely on signs, information boards, or mobile app notifications to navigate. But what happens when this information and access are not available?

People with visual impairments navigate the world through sound, rhythm, and the texture beneath their feet. But in moments of danger, sound becomes disorienting rather than helpful. Sirens, shouting, and explosions merge into chaos, making it nearly impossible to find direction. And if there’s no one nearby to help, a person may be left alone in the panic — quite literally without a way to safety.

Access to shelters during wartime is a matter of life and death. Human rights must not depend on whether someone can see or not. And the right to safety should never rely on luck, guesswork, or the hope that a stranger will be there to lead the way. 

The project “Humanitarian Response and Recovery: Strengthening the Leadership of Organizations of Women with Disabilities” is implemented by the National Assembly of Persons with Disabilities of Ukraine, funded by The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) with technical support of UN Women Ukraine. The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) mobilizes critical support for local and grassroots civil society organizations working on women, peace and security and humanitarian action. WPHF is a flexible and rapid financing mechanism supporting quality interventions designed to enhance the capacity of women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities.

This publication is produced with funding from the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), however, the views expressed and content included does not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

Is it even possible for a blind person to find a bomb shelter independently?