Women carry out at least two and a half times more unpaid household and care work than men. When climate disasters hit — such as floods, wildfires, droughts and storms — women take on additional burdens.

As they usually have the primary responsibility for caring for a home and the people in it, women are often the first responders in disasters, rescuing children, elderly, persons with disabilities, and other community members, and informing local authorities and emergency teams.

After a disaster, women will likely be responsible for caring for the sick and injured, providing support for their families and helping communities recover and rebuild. And yet, even though women are disproportionately impacted by disasters and are leaders in post-disaster recovery, they are largely excluded from shaping policies, strategies, and programmes to address disaster risk and resilience.

Having women actively involved in decision-making is critical to recovery and reconstruction efforts. Fully utilizing women’s capacities, knowledge, and skills when preparing for and recovering from disasters can help identify disaster risks and build security for families and communities.

(www.un.org)