Women participating in villages’ rapid response teams

Early August is the time that rainy and storm season is approaching Thua Thien Hue province. At Huong Phong and Hai Duong communes of Huong Tra town, which located in coastal and lagoon area, village’s rapid respond teams and local people, as usual, are in a rush to prepare for coping with natural disasters. It is noticeable that the local people of 12 villages in 2 communes this year is fuelled by the participation of 60 women who have joined the rapid response teams since June 2013.

Due to gender differences, women’s shyness, personal habits or local social norms, men hardly understand and help women during disaster season. This may increase potential risks. Therefore, it is necessary of having female participation in villages’ rapid response team. It goes without saying that only women can understand themselves most. Moreover, women’s ability to share and persuade others can enhance the effectiveness of communication campaigns for disaster risk management as well as the evacuation, mobilization process, visits, etc. when disasters strike.

In order to facilitate the women’s participation in 12 rapid respond teams, SRD has provided them essential equipment including raincoats, helmets, accident insurance, and life-jackets, etc. In addition, the women are going to have chance to attend training workshops which aim at enhancing their capacities for developing rescue plans, communication campaigns or helping people affected by natural disaster.

As one of the most vulnerable groups to natural hazards, the engagement of women in disaster management not only can build their self-confidence but also benefits the community. Women are also proved to have good community communication skills. Thus, with the support from project VM031, women involvement in the rapid response teams can make significant contribution to disaster risk reduction in their village.

 Since March 2011, Project “Community Based Disaster Risk Mitigation and Climate Change Adaption” in Huong Tra Town, Thua Thien Hue Province –VM031, has assisted Hai Duong and Huong Phong Commune in establishing 12 village response teams with 10 male members per each. Those teams are supplied with equipment including: lifeboats, life-jackets, raintcoats, loudspeakers, radios, disasater risk maps, etc. They also had chance to participate in capacity building activites, disaster response rehearsals, the contest among rapid reponse teams, etc.

-SRD-