Earth Today | A call for gender-responsive disaster management

WHEN DISASTERS strike, they touch everyone – but not equally. The devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa across Jamaica has shown that factors such as gender, age, physical ability, and location all shape how deeply people are affected and how quickly they can recover.

Disasters magnify differences between population groups and the inequalities that already exist in society. The World Health Organization notes that people’s health, income, and social conditions determine how hard they are hit. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change also finds that women, girls, older persons, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups often face greater harm and slower recovery because of social roles, discrimination, and unequal access to resources. In short, the storm may be the same, but people weather it differently.

Women and girls often carry the heaviest load in times of disaster. They care for children, the elderly, and the injured – often while struggling to find water, food, and shelter and to cope with their own physical and emotional needs. These caregiving responsibilities make it harder for women to move to safety, stand in long lines for aid, or search for supplies. Relief efforts that include community health aides, field hospitals, mobile clinics, and organised child-care spaces can reduce care burdens and increase women’s access to basic services.

For pregnant and breastfeeding women, disasters can be especially dangerous. When roads are blocked and clinics are closed, limited access to medical care can lead to life-threatening complications or maternal death during childbirth. Every relief plan should include emergency obstetric care, midwives, and other safe, accessible services to protect mothers and babies.

Health and hygiene challenges also take a toll. Without clean water or sanitary supplies, menstruating women and girls face pain, discomfort, and infection risks. Relief efforts must plan for this by distributing menstrual hygiene kits, pain medication, and clean, private sanitation facilities.

Economic hardship follows swiftly – and it hits women differently. Many Jamaican women earn a living informally, selling in markets, doing domestic work, or small-scale farming. These incomes disappear overnight and, with women having less access to land or credit, recovery takes longer. Cash transfers for women heads of households and seed and seedling distribution can make the difference between recovery and deeper poverty.

Safety is another serious concern. Experience shows that sexual assault and harassment increase in shelters and dark, unprotected areas after disasters. Providing lighting, separate sleeping areas, and trained security personnel helps protect women, girls, and other vulnerable people from violence.

Men, too, face unique pressures. Many take on dangerous tasks in rescue or rebuilding and are expected to stay strong even when traumatised. Ignoring emotional pain can lead to long-term harm. Mental health support and peer counselling for men and boys should be part of every recovery plan.

Older adults and persons with disabilities often face the greatest barriers to evacuation and care. Relief agencies must ensure accessible shelters, transportation assistance, and continued access to medication and mobility aids.

Resilience is not just about stronger houses or sturdier roads. It requires inclusive,gender-responsive disaster management that recognises people’s different realities. That approach is not only fairer, it is smarter and more effective. Recognising differentiated impacts ensures everyone has an equal chance, not only to survive, but to also recover and rebuild with dignity.

Contributed by Carol Narcisse, gender/social inclusion specialist, Jamaica Urban Solutions for the Environment (J-USE) project, Environmental Foundation of Jamaica.