humanitarian action,” (Oxfam (2013), p. 1). “As long as women are excluded from effective engagement
at such levels, gender inequities will be persistent, and countries will not recover as quickly from both the
major and chronic economic shocks that disasters and climate change impacts engender,” (“Disaster Risk
Management,” p. 13). If women are consulted and included in leadership for disaster efforts, however,
disaster relief will more holistically address the needs of the entire community and ensure access of benefits
to women.
Event Description:
This lesson is based on information from the following sources:
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-“The tsunami’s impact on women,” Oxfam Briefing Note, (March 2005).
-“Gender Issues in Conflict and Humanitarian Action,” Oxfam Humanitarian Policy Notes
(November2013).
-“The Gendered Nature of Natural Disasters: The Impact of Catastrophic Events on the Gender Gap inLife
Expectancy, 1981-2002,” by Eric Neumayer & Thomas Plumper – Annals of the Association ofAmerican
Geographers, (2007).
-“Building Resilience, Transforming the Future: The Role of Women in Disaster Risk Reduction,”
byVanessa Thevathasan, Aid & International Development Forum, (15 May 2015).
-“Gender,” United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
-“Disaster Risk Management: A Gender-Sensitive Approach Is a Smart Approach,” by: E. Ferris, C. Stark
&D. Petz – Ch. 4, The Year of Recurring Disasters: A Review of Natural Disasters in 2012 (2013).
-“Towards the Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (HFA2): Women as a force in
resiliencebuilding, gender equality in disaster risk reduction” – A Background Paper on gender inclusion in
HFA2,(April 2014).
For more information on the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake & Tsunami:
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-“Japan Earthquake & Tsunami of 2011: Facts and Information,” by B. Oskin, (7 May 2015).
-“Japan quake took toll on women and elderly,” by Brigitte Leoni, UNISDR, (12 March 2012).
Additional Comments.
Several U.S. military handbooks and guides pertaining to Foreign Humanitarian Assistance (FHA),
including the Civil Affairs FHA Planning Guide from HQDA (August 2009), Disaster Response Staff
Officer’s Handbook (December 2010), and DOD Support to Foreign Disaster Relief (Handbook for JTF
Commanders and Below) (July 2011) do not focus on gender considerations in a disaster. With no
additional detail or emphasis, the integration of gender considerations in HA/DR operations risks not
being fully operationalized.
Lesson Author: Katrina Gehman, Lessons Learned Analyst (Ctr), PKSOI
NOTE: This lesson was previously published in SOLLIMS Sampler Volume 8, Issue 2.
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