GGCA Gender and Climate Change Training Manual - Women's ...

Case study 4
The impact of hazards on women and children: Situation in South
Asia
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South Asia is a continent known to have the
world’s poorest population and to be highly
prone to attacks by extreme natural forces due
to its geographic location. Between 1990-92
Bangladesh alone was hit by three storms, four
floods, one tsunami and two cyclones which
killed more than 4000,000 people and affected
another 42 million. This study analyses the
impact of these disasters on women and
children affirming that women and female
children are more vulnerable in comparison to
men. This study states it is nearly impossible
for women belonging to already poor and
vulnerable groups to bounce back once hit
by extreme events. The result in the worst
scenario is often women becoming destitute
with their children. There are also many flaws
in the legal system, and to make things worse,
the majority of women who are illiterate or
semi-literate, without financial resources find it
nearly impossible to seek legal protection.
The high social values of marriage also play
a big role in the impact of disasters on women.
From the affected women’s view point, their
land and houses gradually being washed away
by the river has denied or delayed the chances
of their marriage. That delay in marriage in an
overly suppressed atmosphere of a tabooridden
society causes many psychological
problems for the girls instigating feelings of
worthlessness and self pity.
It is impressing then how living within these
victimizing relationships, women in South
Asia display enormous strength and capacity
throughout the entire cycle of disasters; in
preparation to face hazards, managing once
the disaster strikes, and in rebuilding their
damaged livelihoods. As observed in other
case studies often it is only women, children and
the elderly that remain in the villages trapped
till the flood waters recede, or managing
till the rains come in prolonged droughts.
During calamities, taking care of the meagre
belongings of the family, ensuring food and
water for the family members, looking into the
concerns of rebuilding livelihoods, securing
the seed and other productive material, taking
care of the sick and old are almost entirely
done by women.
Source:
Madhavi Malalgoda Ariyabandu
Intermediate Technology Development Group
Paper Presented at “Reaching Women and Children In
Disasters”
Laboratory for Social and Behavioral
Research Florida International University
U.S.A
June 2000
Available from the Gender and Disaster Network,
Northumbria University, Division of Geography and
Environmental Management:
http://gdnonline.org/resources/ariyabandu_paper.doc