International Women's Day – March 8th
Humanitarian Assistance
Women and children at a displaced persons camp in Sudan line up near a water tank to fill jugs.
Photo: UNICEF / HQ06-0523 / Shehzad Noor
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“...failure to address gender-based inequalities immediately after disaster and throughout the response can condemn women and girls to less aid, fewer life opportunities, ill-health, violence and even death.”
—International Federation of
Red Cross
and Red Crescent Societies
2006 World Disasters Report
USAID is committed to saving lives, alleviating suffering and minimizing the economic costs of conflict, disaster and displacement.
Women are often more vulnerable than men in these situations due to less education, limited mobility and fewer economic resources.
Conflicts and natural disasters exacerbate women’s vulnerability through displacement, economic disruption, family separation,
breakdown of rule of law, lack of security, corruption and profiteering.
Women gather materials to build homes in a displaced persons camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Photo: UNICEF / HQ05-1231 / Roger Lemo
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With an increased level of awareness of the issues concerning women and humanitarian assistance over the past few years, USAID has undertaken several initiatives to better support women in times of crisis. In some countries, collecting firewood outside of camps for internally displaced people puts women in serious danger of sexual violence.This risk has been reduced by using armed patrols to accompany women or employing fuel-efficient stoves that reduce the amount of firewood needed.
A Pakistani earthquake survivor takes a drink before being airlifted from Muzaffarabad to Islamabad.
Photo: Mike Buytas/ U.S. Air Force
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Women inarguably have security needs during a humanitarian crisis. However, women are not simply helpless victims.Women play an important role in delivering assistance, establishing peace and rebuilding societies.
U.S. foreign assistance works not only to meet women’s basic needs—for security, shelter, food and medical assistance— but also to listen to women and give them a voice in their country’s recovery.
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