When disasters like typhoons strike, women and girls are often disproportionately affected—facing increased risks of displacement, violence, and loss of livelihoods. This is due to: 1. Increased Risks of Displacement Women and girls are particularly vulnerable during disasters, often facing higher rates of displacement. As one example, during Super Typhoon Yolanda, women and girls made up a significant portion of the displaced population, highlighting their increased vulnerability in such scenarios (source). 2. Heightened Exposure to Violence Research indicates that disasters can lead to a rise in gender-based violence (GBV). The systematic review on natural hazards and violence against women and girls found that stressors associated with disasters, such as loss of housing and social support, contribute to an increase in violence, including intimate partner violence and sexual assault (source). Reports from various disasters, including the 2010 Haiti earthquake, documented significant spikes in GBV, demonstrating that chaotic environments can exacerbate pre-existing vulnerabilities (source, source). 3. Loss of Livelihoods Women often bear the brunt of economic impacts during disasters due to existing gender inequalities. A study indicated that women are 14 times more likely than men to die in disasters, which correlates with their lower socioeconomic status and limited access to resources, further jeopardizing their livelihoods (source). 4. Cumulative Impact of Gender Inequality The underlying structural inequalities that women and girls face—such as limited access to education, healthcare, and decision-making—are exacerbated during disasters. This makes recovery more challenging for them, as they may lack the necessary resources and support systems to rebuild their lives (source, source, source). Because of these factors, typhoon relief is one of the core pillars of our efforts at Zonta Greater Rizal II. This is why, last July, we led a relief good distribution mission, in order to do our part in alleviating the immediate needs of some of those affected by the massive typhoon. To find out more about how climate-based disasters affect women and girls, feel free to visit the following resources: [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8112410/ [2] https://lac.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/UNFPA%20version%20ingles%201.pdf [3] https://preparecenter.org/topic/women-and-gender/ [4] https://reliefweb.int/report/philippines/women-children-and-persons-disabilities-most-vulnerable-typhoon-haiyan [5] https://www.undp.org/philippines/blog/her-stories-beyond-numbers-women-forefront-typhoon-response-and-recovery-philippines [6] https://wrd.unwomen.org/practice/topics/gender-dimensions [7] https://disasterphilanthropy.org/resources/women-and-girls-in-disasters/
