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Update as of 19 February
2007
Gender
equity in tsunami recovery | Indonesia
| Sri Lanka | Maldives
| Operational highlights by country
Printable version (PDF Document, 222kb, 3 pages)
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| Gender
equity in tsunami recovery |
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When countries or communities are struck by disasters, their
social, political and institutional weaknesses are revealed.
These fragilities often run along gender lines – disaster
can disproportionately impact upon women and other marginalized
groups. It is therefore important that relief and recovery
operations are designed to take issues of gender equality
into account: to ensure that the unique needs of women are
met and that their voices are being heard.
In the immediate aftermath of the tsunami, relief distributions
included products specifically for women. Volunteers and
staff were, and continue to be, instructed in the proper
treatment of women, and in the special sensitivities of
Muslim women. Great importance has been placed on working
with and through women’s groups in affected communities
and villages ensuring that development and income generating
projects will support them to rebuild their futures.
Interestingly, in the
case of the tsunami, 60 per cent of deaths were women and
therefore in many cases men were left to take care of children
alone. Relief and recovery efforts must be flexible enough
to adapt the gender focus to fit the situation. For example,
programmes for children should not target only women, but
also include single fathers.
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| Indonesia |
International Federation of Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies water and sanitation (watsan)
programmes provide clear examples of gender equity principles
being put into practice in Aceh. For example, community
watsan committees – groups convened to ensure that
the needs of communities are included in the development
of International Federation watsan programmes –
must have an equal number of men and women. As a result,
the design and locations of combined toilet, bathing and
washing facilities (known locally as ‘MCK’s’)
afford women the appropriate level of privacy and access.
The PHAST (Participatory
Hygiene and Sanitation Transformation) hygiene awareness
outreach programme capitalizes on the traditional housekeeping
role of women in some rural areas and uses them as advocates
for appropriate hygiene practices within their communities.
Similarly, the Indonesian
Red Cross (PMI) also focuses on recruiting women for its
community based first aid (CBFA) initiatives. As well
as receiving general first aid training, female volunteers
also receive information on issues that they are most
likely to address, such as maternal care, nutrition and
household hygiene.
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An
Acehnese CBFA (Community Based First Aid) women's
group gathers in a traditional 'Meneusah' meeting
hall to review the content of teaching materials for
a visit to disseminate hygiene and nutrition best
practices in a barrack settlement.
Photo: International Federation (p15392) |
Women have also played
a key role in PMI’s support of national immunization
days for polio and measles. As members of PMI’s
social mobilization groups, they are often uniquely placed
to communicate the importance of childhood vaccination.
PMI and the broader
Federation have also placed a special focus on the role
of women in disaster preparedness planning and activities.
Disasters that occur during the day can often kill or
injure a disproportionate number of women and children
as they are more likely to be in doors, whilst men are
outside working. Women-only community planning meetings
are being conducted to consult about necessary escape
routes and early warning systems. To date, PMI’s
community based action teams (CBAT) that are being established
across Aceh province comprise twice as many women as men.
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| Sri
Lanka |
During the relief and recovery
phases of assistance, conscious efforts were made by the
Federation and to address the different needs of men and
women, children and the elderly. Federation assistance
has also needed to be flexible to reflect the diverse
socio-cultural, ethnic and religious environments in tsunami
affected areas.
The Federation has been
working with Government agencies to ensure equity in the
selection of beneficiaries for housing relocation and
reconstruction. Many Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies
have individually adopted participatory approaches to
project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation
which ensure men, women, children and the elderly are
involved in decisions that will affect their lives.
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Mushroom cultivation in Kalutara,
Sri Lanka. Photo: International Federation (p15115) |
Over the longer term
serious consideration will be given to the significant
demographic changes brought about by the tsunami and how
current and future programming can ensure that the rights
of women are protected and promoted. Many Federation projects
in Sri Lanka are seeking to strengthen existing community
institutions and build community infrastructure (health
and community centers) which can play a protective role
within communities, and create an enabling environment
for greater gender equity and equality.
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| Maldives
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Cultural and gender norms vary
greatly across the Maldives. On some islands women have
been more proactive than men in taking part in Federation
programmes. For example, the disaster management programme
has often seen greater participation from women in its
community-based vulnerability assessments. On Raa Maduvaree
the women’s development committee has been much
more proactive and helpful in identifying both the vulnerabilities
and capacities of those on the island.
Female participation
has helped ensure the success of water committees, helping
to run reverse osmosis units that offer safe drinking
water to local communities. Community-based awareness
programmes on water quality request 50% female participation,
which often includes the members of local women’s
development committees and health workers.
Talented local field
officers, both male and female, assist greatly in outreach
efforts to local communities – particularly with
keeping them informed and involved with construction programmes.
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| Operational
highlights by country |
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In late December
2006 the International Federation sent six M6 trucks
laden with relief supplies from Banda Aceh to severely
flood-affected areas in the south eastern Aceh province
and north eastern districts of North Sumatra province.
Items released from disaster preparedness inventories
in Lhokseumawe and Meulaboh included tents, blankets,
bed sheets, mosquito nets, hygiene kits and clothing.
Medical supplies were also deployed from Banda Aceh,
including general antibiotics and disinfectants; ointments
to treat skin rashes resulting from contaminated flood
waters and; specialty medications to alleviate widespread
upper respiratory infections.
- The International Federation’s
transitional shelter programme is entering its final phase
with accelerated efforts on Simeulue Island aiming to
ensure that remaining shelters are allocated and completed
in the coming months.
- International Federation water
and sanitation achievements during the reporting period
include: 150 fresh water wells rehabilitated and 200 latrines
constructed in the Meulaboh area; 20 gravity spring water
delivery systems built on Nias Island; three community
“MCK’s” (combined toilet, bathing and
washing facility) constructed on Sabang; four PHAST hygiene
training sessions held for 113 participants.
- Induction courses on Red Cross
Red Crescent principles, values and structure are ongoing,
with 2-day sessions delivered to an additional 226 personnel
in Banda Aceh, Calang, Lhokseumawe and Sigli. More courses
are scheduled in the next 30 days for Lamno and Nias.
- Construction preparation activities
proceed for the construction of new Indonesian Red Cross
branch buildings in all 21 Acehnese districts and two
on Nias. Ground-breaking ceremonies have been conducted
for the Banda Aceh, Pidie and Sabang branches, with a
standard building blueprint agreed for all 23 structures.
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More than
16,000 houses have either been completed or
are under construction. A further 13,000 are
planned, bringing the total number of houses
being built with Red Cross and Red Crescent
support to close to 30,000.
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The Movement
is supporting the government to rebuild health
clinics and hospitals, as well as providing
equipment and training for medical staff. Twelve
health infrastructure projects have already
been completed and handed over, another 18 are
under construction, and a further 47 are planned.
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Good progress
has been made with construction on the island
of Raa Dhuvaafaru. Nearly 200 blocks have been
cleared and designs for the two schools and electrical
infrastructure are now complete.
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The second
phase of housing construction on Dhaalu Kudahuvadhoo
is well underway with the majority of foundations
of the 59 homes laid.
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Eleven additional
homes on Kaafu Guraidhoo are nearing completion.
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Construction
of sewer systems on Laamu Gan and Kaafu Maafushi
has commenced.
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A pilot supplementary
water supply system on K. Thulushoo has been completed
and two additional supplementary water supply
systems are being built on the islands of Kolamaafushi,
Maamendhoo and Gadhoo on Gaafu Alifu Atoll.
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