WUNRN
Direct Link to Publication:
APWLD 2006 - Asia Pacific Forum on
Women, Law & Development
GUIDELINES FOR GENDER SENSITIVE
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
__________________________________
Women’s
Action for Change (WAC) Update
Assisting
Flood Victims –
12 January 2009
Women’s
Action for Change (WAC) urge all Fiji national relief efforts to take into
account the special needs of women and children during relief efforts for
victims of last weekend’s devastating floods. Immediate needs include funds and
in-kind support in the form of food provisions, cooking supplies, clothing, shelter
and bedding, women’s sanitary products, baby formula, nappies and such.
Severe
flooding has affected the Western and Northern Division, and the Rewa Delta in
A
large number of affected families were already facing considerable economic
hardship and poverty before the flood, making them even more vulnerable in
times of natural disasters. Many of these families are from informal
settlements and peri-urban settlements on low-lying land prone to flooding, and
villages that have limited access to piped water and electricity. Power
and water supplies are currently disrupted to large areas with the probability
that they will not be restored for 2-3 weeks.
A
large number of the businesses in affected townships such as Nadi and Ba are
still closed, with extensive debris in shops, homes, schools and streets. Major
roads in the Northern division are still closed, as are many smaller local
roads around the country due to water level, road damage and landslides. There are also growing concerns about the
possibility of leptospirosis, scabies, diarrhoea, typhoid and scabies becoming
prevalent in these areas over the coming days and weeks.
Affected
areas have been declared State of
The
Education Department has stated that the first schoo
Social
welfare, health, education and indeed all government
ministries must work actively with civil society organisations and the private
sector to share information and strategies for targeted and effective
assistance.
It
is also imperative that relief efforts pay specific attention
to personal safety and security plans in emergency centres, so that all,
including women and children, are safe in the 114 shelters, as well as in
flood-affected areas where public lighting and safe public access routes are
affected.
Please note that there are several relief support initiatives that have already started, and more will begin in the coming weeks.
WAC - dusilele@connect.com.fj
_________________________________________________
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/13/2465273.htm
January 13, 2009
The flooding in
But the situation is about to get worse, with the director of
The weather service expect an improvement in the weather by the end of the week.
So far
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith announced earlier today the Federal Government will give $150,000 in aid, and stands ready to offer further assistance.
So far six people have died, two are missing and 9,000 Fijians have been left homeless by the floods.
A Virgin Airlines plane landed in
================================================================
To contact the list administrator, or to leave the list, send an email to:
wunrn_listserve-request@lists.wunrn.com. Thank you.