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TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE DIFFERENT NEEDS OF WOMEN, GIRLS, BOYS AND MEN MAKES HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE MORE EFFECTIVE AND ACCOUNTABLE TO ALL AFFECTED POPULATIONS.

A category 5 hurricane (Irma) struck the Caribbean on 5th-7th of September 2017, causing massive destruction and widespread flooding.

Initial information indicates that large proportions of the populations of Anguilla, Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin/St. Maartin, the US Virgin Islands, and Turks and Caicos have been directly affected by the crisis. They will require extensive assessment and support in the coming months. Authorities have declared a state of emergency and report significant damage and even destruction of livelihoods, infrastructure, housing, communications and essential services. Water and food supplies are currently limited. Immediate needs identified include emergency relief supplies, water, food, shelter materials and other NFI, including dignity kits.

Furthermore, a number of locations have reported a wide-scale breakdown in law and order, leading to violence and looting and giving rise to concerns over protection for women and girls at heightened risk of GBV. Curfews and limitations on movement have been put in place by military and police to keep control of the situation.

Logistical and communication access to many of the island states has been problematic, causing delays to assessment, analysis and development of response strategies. This has hampered the inclusion of gender in humanitarian action capacity into the needs identification process and in the formulation of the response. This needs to be resolved, so that the differing and specific needs and vulnerabilities of women, girls, men and boys can be identified and adequately addressed. Further, it is crucial that the voices, experience and leadership from all members of the crisis affected population – including women and girls - are consulted so that the most effective response can be formulated.

PARTICIPATION AND LEADERSHIP OF WOMEN AND GIRLS

The participation and leadership of women and girls in the assessment, planning and implementation of the humanitarian and early recovery response is crucial to ensuring the needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls are identified and addressed. National women’s groups, women’s organizations and civil society need to be consulted to ensure the voices of the crisis-affected women, of all ages, are represented in the process of needs identification and response strategy formulation.

At the coordination level, it is essential that the Humanitarian Coordination Team (or equivalent) convene an inter-agency/inter-Sector working group as soon as possible. This will help ensure effective mainstreaming of gender in the humanitarian response across the Sectors and the GBV sub-Sector, to agree on standards and monitoring impact and to share relevant information. The group should also work on ensuring funding for targeted activities for women and girls.