WUNRN

http://www.wunrn.com

Study conducted by UNISDR - United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction - June 2012

Direct Link to Full 7-Page Document: Type size larger for easier reading - http://www.duryognivaran.org/documents/UNISDR%20Study%20-%20Disaster%20and%20Social%20Vulnerabilities/Disasters%20and%20Social%20Vulnerabilities%20in%20Asia-Pacific.pdf

DISASTERS AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITIES IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

Excerpts: Although gender disaggregated data on disaster mortalities and damages are generally not available, there are empirical evidences to demonstrate that women suffered more in disasters and their specific needs were mostly ignored in post disaster relief and rehabilitation measures.

The emergency response systems throughout the region are still dominated overwhelmingly by males. The standard operating protocols for early warning, evacuation, search and rescue have bias for men and do not consider the special physical, health, psycho-social and other needs, as well as the capacities of women and girls.

Demographic changes pose challenges for redefining the risks for growing number of elders and elderly females and taking appropriate measures for reducing the risks of such vulnerable population. The fact that more than 60 percent of the people killed by the tsunami of East Japan in 2011 were senior citizens demonstrate the challenges that even advanced countries face in mitigating the risks of of disasters for the elderly population.