Women Role in DM_Main Report

8/13/2019 Women Role in DM_Main Report

1/34

Role of Women in Disaster Management: A Case Study on Angaria Union, Dumki, Patuakhali

I

Acknowledgement

We would like to express our appreciation and cordial thanks to all the people whose effort

and input made it possible for this report to carry on to completion. Our sincere gratitude andthanks goes to our respected course teacher Ayesha Akter, Assistant Professor, Department of

Emergency Management, Faculty of Disaster Management, Patuakhali Science and

Technology University for her valuable advice, guidance and encouragement during the

entire process of this assignment. We also like to extend our thanks and appreciation to all

people of the study area. They had made very wonderful contribution and data input to

prepare this report. We also like to thanks especially to our friends, for their enthusiastic

encouragements and helps during the preparation of this report.


2/34


II

Abstract

Disasters have had an impact on the lives of women all around the world. Generally women

are looked at in disasters only as victims despite the fact that the majority of victims in

disasters are women and children. The central role of women in facing the aftermath of

disasters is totally neglected. The women folk is considered as the most vulnerable to

disasters despite they have played significant role in the different phases of disasters. They

rarely get the recognition of their works done in the time of disasters. Bangladesh is one of

the most vulnerable countries to both natural and man-made disasters. The country has faced

a number of devastating natural disasters in the last decade which have claimed hundreds

thousands of precious lives and heavy economic losses. It has been observed that most of the

victims in the past disasters were women. During the last major natural disasters of the

decade it has been observed that in India women do not have technical knowledge about

disaster occurrence in general. The participation of women in the planning, designing,

implementing and monitoring emergency programs and rehabilitation projects is still on alow key profile. This paper is based on the finding of an area very much vulnerable to natural

disasters. The study area is the Angaria Union, very much vulnerable to different disasters.

This paper is conducted based on the data collected from the study area. Most of the data

used in this report is obtained from the field and questionnaire survey. The study finds that

women plays very crucial role in different phases of disasters. The main activities involved

keeping the valuable things in safe place, evacuating the elderly, disable and children to the

cyclone shelters, providing the health care and primary treatment to the wounded people in

particular the family and the community members, take part in the disaster rehabilitation and

reconstruction stage. This study finds that different steps like involving women in discussionmaking process will accelerate the role of women in the total disaster management system.

Keywords:Disaster management, women, disaster, response, recovery


3/34


III

Table of Contents

Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................................... I

Abstract ..................................................................................................................................... II

Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................... III

1.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Objectives ............................................................................................................................ 1

2.1 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 2

2.2 Data Collection: ................................................................................................................... 2

Collection of Maps:.................................................................................................................... 3Collection of Photographs: ........................................................................................................ 3

Questionnaire Survey and Informal Interview:.......................................................................... 3

2.3 Data Analysis and Report Presentation: ......................................................................... 3

2.4 Study area: ...................................................................................................................... 4

3.1 Major disasters in the area ................................................................................................... 5

3.2 Education Level ................................................................................................................... 5

3.3 Disaster knowledge level: .................................................................................................... 6

3.4 Women income source:........................................................................................................ 63.5 Sources of drinking water and other water use .................................................................... 9

3.6 Impact of Super Cyclone SIDR ......................................................................................... 10

3.7 Distribution of General Households .................................................................................. 11

3.8 Vulnerabilities of Women .................................................................................................. 12

3.9 Risk of Women .................................................................................................................. 12

3.10 Womens vulnerability to cyclones................................................................................. 13

3.11 Womens Risk in Shelter................................................................................................. 13

3.12 Effect of Disaster on Women ........................................................................................... 143.13 Women Role in Disaster Management: Current Scenario ............................................... 14

3.14 Role in Pre-disaster phase ................................................................................................ 14

3.14.2 Preparedness: ................................................................................................................ 14

3.15 Disaster Preparedness at Family Level ............................................................................ 16

3.16 Prevention and mitigation: ............................................................................................... 17

3.17 Mitigation at Family and Community Level ................................................................... 17

3.18 Role in during disaster phase ........................................................................................... 18

3.19 Response Phase ................................................................................................................ 183.20 Evacuation, Search and Rescue at Family Level ............................................................. 19


4/34


IV

3.21 Role in post disaster phase ............................................................................................... 19

3.22 Recovery at Family Level and Role of Women............................................................... 20

3.23 Coping Responses ............................................................................................................ 20

3.24 Role of Women in Coping with Disaster ....................................................................... 20

3.25 Attempt of Families to Lead Life..................................................................................... 20

4.1 Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 22

4.1.1 Womens Leadership ...................................................................................................... 22

4.1.2 Promoting Womens Leadership at Society Level......................................................... 22

4.1.3 Changes in Attitude......................................................................................................... 22

4.1.4 Public Education and Campaign ..................................................................................... 23

4.1.5 Demonstrative Project ................................................................................................. 23

4.2 Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 25

Reference ................................................................................................................................. 26

Appendix .................................................................................................................................. 27


5/34


1

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1 Introduction

Bangladesh is one of the most disaster prone countries in the globe. Due to its geographical

and geo-physical location the county become more vulnerable in comparison to other

countries of the south Asian region. Flood, cyclone, riverbank erosion, landslide, flush flood,

flood due to storm surges, salinity water intrusion, drought etc. become as a recurring

phenomenon for the country. These hazards destroy lives and assets; and compared to men,

women suffer most. The available data on damages and losses rarely depict the impacts of

disasters on women. However, findings from various studies suggest that, in Bangladesh, loss

of life due to disaster is proportionately greater for women compared to men. A study on the

cyclone in 1991 reveals that the rate of deaths for women between the ages of 20-44 years

was 71 per thousand people while it was 15 for men. The cyclone in 1970 killed about 25-30

percent women in the affected area. Because of their inferior status and position in the society

and systematic discrimination against them, women are more vulnerable to disaster. Disasters

affect women first and more severely.Especially, when all social and economic activities areimpeded during disaster and the affected community becomes solely dependent to the

external assistance, women intuitively take up an imperative role in order to remove distress

not only for their own families but for community as well. But their contribution is rarely

recognized. In this study, an attempt was made to illustrate their role in disaster management.

It proposes that if womens disaster risk reduction techniques are incorporated in the

mainstream, then disaster management will be more enriched and effective as a whole.

1.2 Objectives

This study is conducted on the basis of the following objectives. The core objectives of this

study are as follows:

- To identify the participation of women folk in the disaster management activities;- To identify the challenges of women faces at the different stages of disasters; and- To provide some recommendations for better participation and involvement of women

in disaster management activities.


6/34


2

Chapter 2: Methods and Materials

2.1 Methodology

The study was conducted with some sequential approaches. The methodological approaches

of the study are as follows.

Figure 1: Methodological Flowchart of the Study

2.2 Data Collection:

To fulfill the objective of the study both primary and secondary data were needed. All the

necessary data have been collected from various sources.

Primary Data: Primary data were collected through personal observation, siteobservation, group discussion, face to face questionnaire interviews and informal

interviews.

Secondary Data: Secondary data were collected from various books, journals,different reports on womens role in disaster management, internets etc.


7/34


3

Collection of Maps:For the purpose of the present study, some maps have been collected. These are

administrative, political, and natural resources based maps etc. Union map has been collected

from the Local government engineering department.

Collection of Photographs:Lot of photographs was also needed to illustrate the present role of women in disaster

management. Some of these photographs have been collected directly from field survey and

some other from daily newspapers as well as from internet websites.

Questionnaire Survey and Informal Interview:To find out inherent role of women in

disaster management, a field survey as

questionnaire survey, informal interview

and open discussion has been conductedwith the different class of women within

the community. The questionnaire was

designed in such a way that it would track

down the role of women in disaster

management in the different phases of

disasters like pre-disaster, during disaster

and post disaster phases. The sample

questionnaire is given in Appendix. The

sample size of these survey activities was

200.

2.3Data Analysis and Report Presentation:All the data both spatial and non-spatial collected from different sources has been analyzed

separately. Non-spatial data has been analyzed using some statistical computer software like,

Microsoft Excel, SPSS etc. Finally the analyzed data have been integrated and presented as

maps, tables, and graphs and putted in the report in Microsoft Office Word 2010.

Figure 2: Data collection from the field


8/34


4

2.4Study area:Some basic information of the study area:(2011)

The total land area of the Angaria Union is 4044 acres. The total number of households in the

study area is about 2840. According to the data of the national population census of 2011 the

total population is about12, 953 among them the male is 6083 and female is 6870 out of them

12,944 are in households and rests of the 9 are as floating. And the population density is the

791 per sq. km. Literacy rate of the union is 71.8% and the male literacy rate is 75.0% and

female literacy rate is 69.1%. The population distribution of the area on the basis of the

religion is muslim-11562, hindu-1390 and Christian is 1.

Figure 3: Study area map


9/34


5

Chapter 3: Results and Discussion

3.1 Major disasters in the area

The villagersresponse to the question about the major disasters in the study areas varies very

well. According to the people perception and responses the following disasters are identified:

Some of the major disasters in the study areas are1. Kalboishaki2. Cyclone and storm surges3. Floods4. Drought5. River bank erosion6. Cold waves7. Heat waves8. Fires9. Pest infestation10.Rat attack11.Diseases of livestock

3.2 Education Level

(Source: Field Survey, 2013)

In study area we find an excellent matter that is the percentage of education is satisfactory.

The community people all engaged with different stage of education is running from primary

to university. Again there are some illiterate people. The higher level of education ensure the

better understanding of the need of disaster management and awareness among the people of

both male and female regarding disasters.

Education Level Percentage (%)

Illiterate 17

Under SSC 47

HSC 23

Graduation 13

Figure 4: List of major disasters in the Venn-diagram


10/34


6

Figure 5: Status of education level

3.3 Disaster knowledge level:87% of the women in Angaria union are well educated and well known about the warning

signals.

Knowledge Level Number(Total 200 person)

High Satisfactory 46

Satisfactory 93

Non- Satisfactory 61

(Source: Field Survey, 2013)

Figure 6: Status of Disaster Knowledge Level

3.4 Women income source:

Women of the study area are engaged in different income generating activities like

homestead gardening, livestock rearing, poultry rearing, small business and a small section of

people are engaged with the agricultural activities. These sorts of activities help them to earn

money that positively contribute to build the family and community level capacity and thuscontribute to disaster management and disaster risk reduction.

Illiterate

17%

Under SSC

47%

HSC23%

Graduation

13%

Percentage of literacy rate

0

20

40

60

80

100

High

Satisfactory

Satisfactory Non-

Satisfactory

Disaster knowledge Level

Number(Total 200 person)


11/34


7

Income Source Percentage of total population

Homestead Garden 95%

Livestock 65%

Poultry 85%Small business 30%

Agricultural sector 20%(Source: Field survey, 2013)

Figure 7: Vegetables cultivation in the homestead and follow land by women


12/34


8

Figure 8: Horticultural crops in the homestead garden


13/34


9

Figure 9: Women income source

3.5 Sources of drinking water and other water useAt Angaria we observed four types of drinking water source which are river, pond, tube-well

and rainwater. There are some shallow and some deep tube- well. Most of the tube-well is

associated with house. During the rainy season people use rainwater for the cooking and

household purpose. Paira river is flow beside this Union. During high tide period this river

carry huge amount of water and flooded the major parts of th Mouza.

95%

65%

85%

30%

20%

Homestead Garden Livestock Poultry Small business Agricultural sector

Women Income source

Percentage of total population

Source Use priority (%)

River 15

Tube-well 55

Pond 21

Rainwater 9


14/34


15/34


11

3.7 Distribution of General Households

The total number of households of the union is 2834 among them the percentage of the

Pucka, Semi-Pucka, Kutch and Jupri is 2.2%, 9.7 %, 87.1% and 1% respectively. The toilet

facility statistics is as follows: sanitary (water sealed)-71.4%; sanitary (Non-water sealed

25.9%; Non-sanitary-2.4% and others is 0.3.

Figure 11: Distribution of the general household by structure type

Figure 12: Distribution of the toilet facility by the type

2%

10%

87%

1%

Percentage (%)

Pucka Semi-Pucka Kutch Jupri

71%

26%

3% 0%

Percentage of the toliet facility

Sanitary (water sealed) Sanitary ( non-water sealed)

non-Sanitary Others


16/34


12

3.8 Vulnerabilities of Women

Traditionally women are less able to use physical strengths. They are less able to swim or

climb trees. Their clothing hinders their mobility. However, this vulnerability arises from the

subordinate position of the women in the society. Traditional beliefs and social

discriminations define a role for women force them into this subordinate position. Families or

the communities rarely take note of womens views. Women almost have no rights to take

decision. Women cannot apply risk reduction related skills or knowledge in real life. In the

male dominated society, they live under risks. Moreover, they have almost no opportunity to

earn money; they have limited control over and access to their own or family assets. As a

result, they cannot invest in order to reduce disaster induced risks. There are various social

restrictions on womens movement. A womans swimming, running and climbing trees are

prohibited socially. For this reason, most of the women cannot obtain these skills and become

relatively more vulnerable and exposed to the risk during disaster. Specially, womens

education, medical care and nutrition related issues never get priority in poor families. As a

result, womens thoughts and wisdom are kept confined, thus they cannot become aware. Atthe same time, they remain weak physically; and it becomes difficult for them to face

disaster. Managing household activities and nurturing children is vested on women. Women

cannot go to shelter leaving their houses unprotected or children unattended. They do not get

emergency news timely. Even, cyclone related early warnings do not reach them accurately.

3.9 Risk of Women

In our society unpaid works are allocated to women which contributes to construct idea about

women that they are not working. This idea makes women to be considered as burden onmen and creates womens subordinate position in the society. Therefore, this subordinate

position restricts her mobility and work resulting in less access or no control over property

and no power to make her decision. Traditional socialization process and attitude limits and

restricts womens role. As a result, girls and women suffer most and face discrimination in

food, health and education. They grew up under rigid rules and restrictions whereas boys or

men grew up with more freedom. Family or society lost sight of thinking about womens

vulnerability during disaster. At that time even, dignity of family gets preference over

womens life. Women have to uphold family as well as dignity at the cost of their life.

As women grew up and socialize in a discriminatory society, women cannot earn lifesavingskill, such as, swimming, climbing tree or not confident in heavy work. As a result she

become vulnerable during disaster and lose life. As she does not have lifesaving skill,

sometimes, women really become a burden on men and get chance to reinforce stereotypical

idea of women as burden. Above all, women are vulnerable due to her biological

construction which is natural and cannot be changed. This vulnerability increased more

during emergency situation.


17/34


13

3.10 Womens vulnerability to cyclones

Before cyclone

Physical weakness:Women have some physical special need that are different from her

male counterpart and is completely a natural matter and cannot be changed. All these things

make women more vulnerable to different disasters.

Division of labor: Division of labor is very common in Bangladesh. The rural part of

Bangladesh represents the case very severely. Women are responsible for the reproductive

works and the recognition of their works seldom taken place. On the other hand male are

responsible to work outside and treat the only breadwinner for the family.

Dress code (sari/sharee):The dress code and other attire sometimes act as an additional

factor to create the vulnerability of the women. The women are habituate to wear the

traditional dress of Bangladesh that is very much difficult to wear on and to maintain in

properly.

Cultural/religious norms: Different cultural beliefs and norms make them very much

susceptible to different disasters. For instance it is not fair to leave the house of a Muslimwoman without the permission of the elder people of the family or her husbands. So that

when there is a warning of an impending natural disaster like cyclone or fold, in absence of

the superior in the house she cannot leave the house and this increase her possibility to be

affected by the cyclone or other disasters.

Waiting to seek consent from husband:Women needs to take the consent of his husband

to leave the house. The UN Environment Programme reports that in 1991, among women

aged 20-44, the death rate was 71 per 1,000 compared to 15 per thousand for men. It

attributed the disparity to the social expectation that women wait for family members before

escaping to a safer place.

Access to cyclone shelter: There is also huge discrimination to women in the cyclone

center. The space is not enough for women; there is no separate living room or washing room

for women in the cyclone shelter. There are changes to be assaulted and sexually exploited in

the shelter.

Post-cyclone

Less access to relief:Women are getting very less priority to find the relief aid. In the most

cases they deprived from the basics relief like food, drinking water and associated others.

Domestic/sexual violence: Domestic and sexual violence is very much common in

Bangladesh and all the families as well. The types of violence make the women more

vulnerable to different natural disasters (Shamsuzzoha 2012).

3.11 WomensRisk in Shelter

Risk of women increases manifold if they stay at home instead of visiting shelter. Again,

they may face numerous problems in the shelter including sexual harassment. Robbery and

sexual harassment were reported in some parts of affected areas during the crisis moment of

1991 cyclone too. Adolescent girls and women were abducted and sexually harassed at that

time. Besides, demand for special need of women is not considered in the shelters. Around


18/34


14

65 percent shelters do not have separate living room, water and sanitation facilities for men

and women which result in many problems for women besides sexual harassment.

3.12 Effect of Disaster on Women

There are many problems which women have to go through daily. The main problems whichwomen face includes malnutrition, poor health, maternal mortality, lack of education,

mistreatment, overworked, lack of power, marriage, dowry and female infanticide.(Gokhale

2008).

3.13 Women Role in Disaster Management: Current Scenario

Women are the backbone of the rural subsistence economy. Their respective role in family

which is of productive nature to a large extent makes the family and society sustainable but

it is not acknowledged by and large. The practical experiences and capabilities of womenhelp the whole family to better prepare for, and cope with, disasters. In a disaster situation

women, in addition to their usual day to day routine activities, take a leading role in caring

for injured persons and elderly people; they provide emotional support to family members

and collect relief goods, food and firewood. The inclusion of womensknowledge and skills

into the communitysdisaster management plans and strategies make the process of disaster

management very much effective and advance.

3.14 Role in Pre-disaster phase

3.14.1 Pre Disaster Role of women:

Disasters not only affect development but also affect the human being. There is a significant

relationship between development strategies and the extent to which a country is prepared to

respond in the event of a disaster. Through sustained efforts, including those of hazards and

vulnerability analyses, prevention and mitigation, preparedness planning, education and

training, it is possible to avert some disasters and in others to minimize the number of injuries

and deaths, and also reduce the resulting socio-economic burden and loss.

In most societies, women constitute more than fifty percent of the population and are a major

human resource in socio-economic development. However, this resource can only be realized

if women are involved and active in the development process.

3.14.2 Preparedness:

Preparedness programs aims at saving life and properties during disaster. Preparedness

activities are done at institutional, social and family level. Broadcasting early warning is done

at community and institutional level, to mount rescue, migration and response operations

timely and effectively. Family level preparedness includes raising homesteads, repairing

houses, making moveable earthen cooker made of mud, preserving firewood and dry food.

Women play a vital role in these preparedness activities.

Essentially the role of women in the preparedness phase ranges from teaching simpleeveryday safety measures in the home, to hazard identification in the community.


19/34


20/34


16

Figure 13 : Machan Built Inside the House to Keep Utensils Valuable Items

Another woman named Beauty Rani Das said that I stored some dry food for my family and

keep a prepared Chula (earth made stove) in the Machan.

3.15 Disaster Preparedness at Family Level

Women play a vital role in disaster preparedness at family level. Considering possible

inconvenience during disaster women make portable stove, pile up firewood, dry food for

example: chira, muriand dry vegetables, save an amount from their income, make chhika

(jute made reticulate bag hanging from wall or ceiling) with jute so that utensils could be kept

hanging above the floor during flood. They also plant banana tree and plant Dhol Kolmi

around their houses to reduce affect of disaster. In addition, they repair houses, make

matchan (raised seat) and raft of banana tree with the male members of the family. Women

have to put extra labor for all these purposes in addition to regular household work.

In this phase, suggested areas in which women can contribute include:

Practice of safety measures in home; Education of community in the skills for use in the response phase for example first

aid;

Identification of the community resources; Preparation and implementation of the community / family disaster plan; Participation in the community disaster planning; Participation through womens groups in public awareness and information programs; Evacuation of vulnerable community and individuals groups for instance elderly,

persons with physical and mental disability;


21/34


17

Learning construction skills to assist with the provision and maintenance of safehousing;

3.16 Prevention and mitigation:

Most of the woman take a loan from different banks and NGOs to strengthening their house

and improve the economic status by creating alternative source of income (practice of

horticulture, raring of livestock, tailoring, small business etc.), reinforcement of housing,

increase the plinth of house, store rice in earth made container (locally known as pipa,

motca).

Due to the less access of NGOs in this union, the women of the union generate a Samity to

meet the needs of emergency situation.

67% of the women in Angaria union are well educated and well known about the warning

signals. From TV, radio and community FM they listening the daily weather news and

prepare themselves according to the disaster situation.

To prevent the loss of livestock and economy they store fodder at higher elevation and

preserve alternative fuel made from cow dung and firewood.

Figure 14: Machan for Storing Cow Dung Cake and Firewood

They plant trees to protect their house and household from the adverse impact of the cyclone

or any other disasters.

Some training program organized by several NGOs (ASA, Grameen Bank, BARC) provides

knowledge about the disaster and help to increase the capacity of the women in Angaria

Union.

3.17 Mitigation at Family and Community Level

Families in flood-prone areas raise their homesteads. Well of families perform this work

through engaging labor from outside; but poor or less well-off families do this by their own

initiative. Women had to give extra labor along with their daily regular activities whileraising homesteads by their own endeavor. Sometimes, all family members especially in haor


22/34


18

areas work together to raise homesteads of particular area through voluntary services where

women had to give extra efforts in addition to their daily routine work.

3.18 Role in during disaster phase

Women have earned and mastered the skills to survive different disasters through

generations. While male members of the family take the livestock to protective embankmentsor distant places, and arrange for their fodder women make preparations to take care of the

children, the valuables, and the cooking utensils. It is the women who make provision for

food to support the family during the floods, and preserve seed for the next cultivation season

(Ariyabandu 2003).

The study reveals that on floods, notes that, with floods, most of the drinking water sources

go under water. Women take considerable risks to procure drinking water from great

distances, walking through chest-high water or swimming to collect fresh and clean water.

The study also noted that women use various techniques to take water out of the tube wells so

as not to mix it with flood water, and to purify the water, in the absence of fuel wood.

3.19 Response Phase

Women play a major role in risk and emergency management. Taking care of the family in

emergencies, taking children and animals to safety, and the storage of food and other

essential items, are some of the functions carried out entirely by women in such situations.

The social role assigned to women in South Asian societies as caregivers and nurturers

naturally extend to risk management, to secure life and the continuity of livelihoods, and to

maintain the life support systems, in times of disasters (Ariyabandu 2003).

Women are the first to provide nursing care to the most affected family members whether it is

a flood, earthquake or drought, before any official relief work begins. Along with the task of

providing immediate care, women also take the necessary steps to find food, water, and fuel

to prepare the next meal for their families.

The study also noted that men often sat idle or moved elsewhere, leaving their household

members behind. It was left to the women to take the responsibility for protecting children

and other members of the family, livestock, and belongings.

Also, in procuring food for the family during flood emergencies, women mange the risk of

starvation by various means; by gathering edible wild plants, and rotten or discarded

vegetables. Often, the collection of food from common land was womens work. The study

also observes that the social networks of women provide emergency survival support during

floods. For instance, food items, fuel, bedding, and material for makeshift household

purposes are borrowed on loan or given as charity. Borrowing of food or minor items is not

identified as a mans responsibility, asking for help from others is looked down, as beneath

his dignity.

Although many of the activities during this phase have been primarily the male dominated,women have the capabilities to assist in such areas like search and rescue.


23/34


24/34


25/34


21

Risk Transfer:Taking future risk to meet present needs i.e. selling household belongings,

selling labor in advance, taking loan at higher interest. Rearrangement of Responsibilities:

Engaging children in income earning; migrating male members to other places for searching

source of income.

Filling Deficit: Accumulation of food from open place or forest, taking help from relatives,

neighbors and friends and collecting relief materials are very common practice to fill the

deficit. Women had to tolerate more pressure for managing all these things. Their nutrition

intake may hamper due to austerity measures. Their household activities become challenging

as utensils are sold. They may face sexual harassment while collecting food from open

places or forests. Womens risk of sexual harassment increase when male members move to

other places for earning income.


26/34


27/34


23

and pure drinking water for family also discussed as contribution. Apart from this, women

taking responsibilities of head of household when their male members dead, or migrate

during emergencies. Social taboos are seen to be relaxed in the case of womens livelihood

and their income generating activities. Women are always involved in growing kitchen

garden and rearing poultry; recently they are seen as day laborer in agriculture sector,digging, brick-field or in construction work. At present, women are participating at local

disaster management committee. However, their responsibilities are limited to preparedness

work and minimizing the damages of disaster; women have no role in post-disaster economic

rehabilitation work.

4.1.4 Public Education and Campaign

Social discrimination, womens risk during disaster and womens active role in reducing risk

can be central agenda for mass education and campaign. Such as -

It is very important to save womens lives than the dignity of family; Socially imposed rigid norms and values on women make entire family vulnerable; Women, first, respond to any disaster; Traditional and discriminatory socialization process causes loss of lives; Womens own asset saves other members of family during disaster; During disaster men lose their income and women take the responsibilities of

household;

4.1.5 Demonstrative Project

Project can demonstrate specific objectives by challenging traditional division of labour

between men and women. Such as -

Educational institutes or local disaster management committee can organise life-saving skill development activities among boys and girls;

To grow disaster resilient or fast growing vegetable; Introduce distributing vegetable seeds as relief item; Distribute poultry item as relief item; Introduce cash for work at household level (if women are targeted for short term

training, male member of that family can be beneficiaries).

Introduce kitchen utensil and firewood as relief item (kitchen knife, pot etc.) Develop code of conduct for local people to participate at community action process

(similar as code of conduct for employer to stop hiring child labor for risky job)

Though little, nowadays womens participation is visible in disaster related work, for

example, women are member of committee, volunteer, participate in risk analysis etc. But,

their presence is not enough to reduce their vulnerability during disaster. It is obvious to

recognize womens contribution and establish as well as promote their central role in disasterrisk reduction process to achieve the objectives. These initiatives will help to challenge


28/34


24

existing division of labor, therefore, to reduce discrimination against women. Promoting

womens leadership in disaster management willadd value to it and will bring constructive

and realistic changes in disaster risk reduction structure. Above all, these changes will help to

reduce risk for all population along with women. Bringing the changes in disaster risk

reduction structure is not possible for lone organization; it can only kick the start. Concertedeffort is necessary to materialize these changes.


29/34


25

4.2 Conclusion

It has been noticed that women participation in emergency relief, resettlement, and

reconstruction efforts following a natural disaster acquire significant knowledge and expertise

that can greatly benefit communities that subsequently experience similar crises. When

disasters strike, the opportunities to decrease womens marginalization arise early on, when

norms of social control and male-dominated family structures are temporarily disrupted and

weakened by the chaos that ensues. If affected women can meet and benefit from the

experiences of other women who have managed to deal successfully with disaster- related

issues, much valuable time can be saved and mistakes avoided. Gender issues must be

urgently and effectively integrated into disaster research, planning, and organizational

practice. Women have a definite role to play in disaster relief and reconstruction activities.

Considering this a new approach to disaster needs to be developed out and disaster research,

planning and practice should look into their vulnerabilities and requirements.


30/34


26

Reference

(2011). Population and Housing Census 2011. Ministry of Planning, Dhaka, Bangladesh,

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

Ariyabandu, M. (2003). "Women: the risk managers in natural disasters." Journal forWomens Liberation6 (1).

Gokhale, V. (2008). Role of Women in Disaster Management : An Analytical Study

with Reference to Indian Society. The 14th World Conference on Earthquake

Engineering Beijing, China.

Md.Shamsuzzoha (2012). Cyclone Shelter Management: A Survey on Cyclone SIDR Victim

of Bangladesh. Breaking the Mould, Calman Learning Centre, Durham University,

UK.


31/34


27

Appendix

Appendix

AppendixAppendix


32/34


28


33/34


29


34/34


Documents

Women Role in DM_Main Report