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Date Added to
Site: 25th January 2005 |
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Short Summary
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| Title |
Women: The Risk Managers in Natural Disasters
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| Author |
Ariyabandu, M. |
| Publication
Date |
August 2004 |
| Publisher |
The Social Science Research Institute (SSRI),
Honolulu, Hawaii |
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Short Summary |
This paper highlights the unique role played
by women during and after the onset of a natural disaster, with specific
reference to Sri Lanka and the South Asian region. Sri Lanka, as an
island in the Bay of Bengal, is frequently hit by floods, droughts
and landslides, with the government response being more geared towards
charity and relief rather than preparedness and disaster management.
It is in this context that women, particularly in their role as nurturers
and as carers, are expected to protect the family in times of emergency
through activities such as protecting food stocks and taking children
and animals to safety. When disaster strikes, women come together
to find ways to adapt to shortages in food and water, pooling money
and sharing resources to ensure survival. It is also women who are
the first to take on care for those injured in a disaster, in addition
to feeding the family in high risk conditions such as walking through
flood waters or over long distances to find food. It is recommended
that governments and disaster planners move away from thinking of
women as victims to recognising the essential work they do. |
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