Women, girls & gender-diverse people are disproportionately affected by disasters, especially those who have preexisting vulnerabilities because of structural inequities. Women & children are 14 times more likely to die from a disaster than men. Transgender adults are twice as likely than cisgender adults to report being in poor health, which impedes full recovery after a disaster.
Yet funding to support women, especially in larger complex humanitarian emergencies is insufficient and usually does not go to women-led organizations. A feminist humanitarian response to crises and climate change is one way to address the root causes of women’s marginalization. It is also a way to ensure that all vulnerable groups are identified & prioritized for assistance, that they have delegated decision-making power, and that intentional efforts are made to ensure people from all marginalized groups participate in the decisions that affect them, as well as in the response & recovery efforts in the aftermath of a disaster.