Disaster and Resilience Building among Women in Manipur

Abstract

Time and again one observes how the disaster risk reduction strategies fail to address the issue, endangering lives at a greater risk with the most basic needs missing from the system. Women and girls have been found to be at a much greater risk in terms of reproductive health problems, sexual abuse, forced marriages and other forms of gender-based violence including death. It is estimated by the UN that worldwide, women and children are 14 times more likely to die than men in a disaster. In fact, women across the world are charged with responsibilities to handle all crisis management at home simply because men are busy due to their obligations at work outside the home premises. Ushering in safety for women and girls in terms of maternal mortality, safety from unintended pregnancy, safety during humanitarian crisis and protection from violence will automatically ensure safety during natural disasters or even during the man-made conflicts.