Q1. Discuss various models of disaster management. Or Illustrate various case studies ascertaining the need for gender sensitive disaster management.
- Disasters disproportionately affect women and girls due to pre-existing social and economic inequalities.
- Indian Ocean Tsunami (2004) showed higher female mortality due to traditional roles and lack of survival skills.
- Hurricane Katrina (2005) exposed exacerbated vulnerabilities of poor women and single mothers.
- Kashmir Earthquake (2005) highlighted women's increased risks in camps and exclusion from aid decisions.
Answer: Disasters are not gender-neutral; their impacts are profoundly shaped by pre-existing social, economic, and cultural inequalities that disproportionately affect women and girls. A gender-sensitive approach to disaster management recognizes these differentiated vulnerabilities and capacities, aiming to address them effectively across all phases of the disaster cycle. Historically, disaster responses have often adopted a 'one-size-fits-all' approach, failing to acknowledge that women, men, boys, ...