Women’s Empowerment at the Frontline of Adaptation

Table 3: Top ten hazards and their impact in Nepal (1971–2010)

SN Hazard type

No. of records/ events

No. of deaths

No. of injury

No. of affected people

1.

Epidemic

3,413

16,521

43,076

512,967

2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Landslide

2,705 3,377 4,936 1,034

4,327 3,899 1,293

1,446

555,607

Flood

461

36,65,104

Fire

1,097 1,810

252,074

Thunderstorm

986 969 873 442 404 269 999

66,68 2,137 4,539 2,393 2,016

Accident

100

359

Earthquake Cold wave

95

6,840

320 389 135

83

Structural collapse

596 124

10. 11.

Boat capsize Other events

410

2,651

1,335

928,331

Total

19,155

30,982

57,227

59,25,587

Source: DesInventar, 2011

7. Lack of timely information and inputs from authorities on disaster preparedness and rescue teams on relocation to safer places and sources of relief services puts women in a more vulnerable position than men during disasters. In the hills, prolonged dry spells are increasing the number of rat holes, which loosen the soil and cause severe damage and landslides during heavy rainfall. Both during and after disasters, it is the poor and marginalized women who suffer the most as they are engaged more in farming and fodder and fuelwood collection and, hence, more exposed and prone to accidents. People from poor and marginalized groups are also more vulnerable to

natural disasters as they tend to reside in disaster- prone areas, which are often far away from the main settlement, making timely rescue and support difficult. For example, during the landslide in 2010 in Phulbari VDC in Kavre district, the houses that were swept away during the night were that of Dalit and Tamang families residing on the outskirts of the village. Although no one died in this incident, these families were rescued only on the second day as they lived far from the main village. Although women may have more local knowledge about safe places and preparedness and can easily approach relatives and acquaintances for shelter and mobilize resources through social networks, their knowledge and skills are not recognized or used by the intervening authorities and agencies. The very nature of disaster preparedness training also typically excludes women. For example, such training often entails physical activities, such as climbing and swimming, and women’s traditional clothes (saree, lungi) make it difficult for them to perform such physical tasks. Women also feel self-conscious to attend training in mixed groups wearing non- traditional clothes such as trousers. Similarly, post- disaster gender training is seldom gender sensitive.

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