International Women’s Day: the unequal impact of disasters on women

Latin America and the Caribbean is the second most disaster-prone region associated to natural events in the world. In fact, one in four disasters recorded in the last 10 years occurred in our region (UNDRR, 2021), and studies predict that the frequency and intensity of natural hazards will continue to increase due to climate change.

However, these events do not hit all people equally. Women are disproportionately more affected by disasters than men, especially those who live in vulnerable situations. According to a 2019 UNDP report, at least 60% of deaths in the last 20 years caused by extreme climate events corresponded to women. Meanwhile, the OECD  estimates that women and children are 14 times more likely to die from a disaster than men.

What is the cause of this alarming disparity? Several factors influence this scenario, one of the main ones being the prevalence of women in poverty. In 2022, for every 100 men living in poor households in the region, there were 118 women (ECLAC). High economic fragility limits having resources that would facilitate the possibility of escape or survival when a disaster occurs. Additionally, women heads of households living in poverty are more likely to settle on surfaces that are more exposed to natural hazards, such as, for example, soils susceptible to landslides, since they tend to be low-cost land. In the rural context, very few women are able to access the resources and financing necessary to adapt to climate change because they do not own the land, which restricts their ability to respond and confront natural hazards (UNDRR).

Due to prevalent gender roles, women usually assume responsibility for caring for minors, the elderly and people with disabilities, which is why they spend more time in private homes, which are generally more precarious than public or commercial buildings. In the case of pregnant women or women who have recently given birth, they experience reduced mobility that increases the difficulties in moving to a safe area (IWPR).

Furthermore, during and after disasters, cases of domestic and sexual violence against women increase. Many even avoid using shelters for fear of being sexually assaulted. Likewise, evidence shows that women and girls are exposed to greater risks than men in post-disaster refugee camps (IUCN).

Disaster Risk Reduction with a Gender Perspective

The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (approved in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly) establishes an action plan with four strategic pillars to prevent new disaster risks and reduce existing ones: (i) Understanding disaster risk; (ii) Strengthening disaster risk governance; (iii) Investing in disaster reduction for resilience; (iv) Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “build back better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Although the Sendai Framework is not explicit on how to address disaster risk reduction for different groups (for example, women, children or the elderly, or people with disabilities), it is a public policy framework guide that encourages integrated and inclusive participation of all key actors in society  (UNDRR). There are clear opportunities to integrate the gender approach into each of the pillars of the Sendai Framework action plan. For example, (i) disaggregate the results of risk monitoring assessments and indicators by gender; (ii) carry out a diagnosis of women’s participation in decision-making processes and encourage actions to ensure their inclusion, (iii) integrate women in the process of designing structural and non-structural measures for risk reduction and generate information on financing with a gender perspective; (iv) promote international standards with a gender perspective for disaster response, recovery and reconstruction with transformation.

At the IDB we are committed to integrating all vulnerable groups in disaster risk reduction initiatives in the region. In Brazil, for example, an initiative has been carried out to train and empower women in risk management, transforming them into climate leaders of their communities and thus contributing to reducing vulnerability and strengthening the response to disasters. In another example, we supported a policy reform process in Bahamas that led to the incorporation in the text of the Disaster Risk Management Act, recently enacted by its Parliament, of the adoption of humanitarian standards that consider the needs of those people who are vulnerable due to their gender, age, disability, poverty or displacement.

On International Women’s Day, let’s remember that not all of us experience risk and disasters in the same way, so taking actions with a gender perspective is essential to strengthen resilience to disasters.