Why climate change is a gender issue

Environmental scientists say; “when there is a downpour, there are disasters.” Validation of this statement can vividly be seen in what has happened in different parts of Tanzania and around the world.

Think of the 30-minute storm that swept through Mwakata Village in Kahama District in March this year, which left 900 families homeless, killing 49 and injuring 91 people – the majority number of victims being women.

The economic impact of such calamities is shocking, affecting the lives of many families. Mothers fail to effectively look after their children due to hardships that come after floods. In recent floods, 2,332 acres were destroyed, along with a number of cows and goats that were killed due to floods that wreaked havoc in a single night. 

Unpreparedness

Perhaps this wasn’t in the government’s disasters preparedness response as well as mitigation and risk reduction activities plan, but due to the dire state of the the situation in Kahama, a scene which President Jakaya Kikwete, visited; imperative measures had to be made. The President promised that his government will construct 403 houses for 900 families that survived from the March storm at Mwakata Village - a project which will cost Sh2 billion.

Dar es Salaam dwellers don’t have it any easier, before people could shift their attention from the Kahama disaster, voices were aired from Buguruni ‘kwa Mnyamani’ in Ilala, Dar es Salaam indicating that residents from the area were in dire need of food and humanitarian support. These floods claimed the lives of 7 people.

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) report released last year indicates that floods and storms pose a bigger threat to both people’s lives and economy than any other natural disasters in the 21st century.

Under Disasters Risk Reduction world programme, the WMO scientists who monitored and filed disasters influenced by climatic change events around the world from 1970 to 2012 recorded 8, 835 natural disasters of flood storms, drought and heat waves that have claimed the lives of 1.94 lives.

Furthermore, disasters have caused $2.4 trillion economic losses calling on Tanzania and other countries to have proper disaster preparedness and disaster response as well as mitigation and risk reduction plans.

Leading world disasters (1970-2012)

Floods   44pc

Storms  35pc

Others  9pc

 Mass Movements6pc

Droughts             6pc

Impact on women and girls

It is estimated that 70 per cent of those killed in the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami were women and girls.  According to the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held in Nairobi, Kenya in March, this year, women and girls within certain countries are more likely to be indoors at home, so when an earthquake or tsunami strikes, they have less forms of escape than men who might be outside and able to receive warning messages, climb to higher ground or seek shelter in a safer location.

As a result, activists are now pushing policymakers and implementers to go beyond and think of including gender consideration in all matters concerning disaster risk reduction in the final text of the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.

In Tanzania, a woman has many roles she plays in the society hence they are indispensable when the issue of disaster and risk reduction arises.  Reproductively, women bear children and the whole family, while in a productive role, women, who, at 85 percent in rural areas are active in agriculture and small businesses, catering for family needs. 

When it comes to matters of drought, water shortage, floods and other disasters, these are as a result of climatic change. Again, women and children are the ones who are adversely affected. It is for this reason, and many more, that there should be an inclusive gender policy when addressing   disaster risk reduction. Ongoing political campaigns have seen presidential candidates from each party putting forth their agendas regarding solving the water problem, a problem that has been perennial in Tanzania.

Women and poor families suffer a lot during the search for water. The water being searched for could be either for drinking or for house chores.  The problem goes beyond their homes to health centres where it’s not a surprise for an expectant mother to be required to carry a bucket of water with her.

 Tanzania Red Cross Society

Joseph Kimaryo, The Director of Disasters Management of Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS) says the country is experiencing negative effects of climatic change. Floods and droughts are putting people, especially those who depend on agriculture in rural settings in an uphill battle.

It is well known that the core function of TRCS in Tanzania is to extend relief and help the victims of any calamity including flood, fire, famine and earthquakes but according to the director, the organisation is now focusing on developing climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in order to reduce risks and thereby reducing disasters.

“Two years ago, we experienced impacts of climate change in Simanjiro and Kiteto where majority of people engage in pastoralism and farming. Red Cross is now empowering communities in order to face environmental challenges resulting from weather,” says Mr. Kimaryo.

 Citing recent floods in Kahama that left 900 people homeless, killing 49 and injuring 91, the director says poverty and lack of information in the community on risks and disasters are lengthening the effects of disaster.

“For instance Kahama floods, majority in Mwakata Village have poor houses that cannot resist such calamity. Families who dwell in good houses weren’t adversely affected. And as expected, others do not know what to do in such situation,” says Mr Kimaryo.

Red Cross Society has initiated the reforestation projects in Mara, Mwanza, Kagera and Geita as part of mitigation programmes believing that it will help the Lake Zone communities in sensitising environmental degradation and minimising its impacts.

Kimaryo believes informing society on matters pertaining to weather can help it to decide wisely on what to cultivate, changing lifestyle and how to avoid more risks when disasters arise.

Hence Red Cross is partnering with Tanzania Meteorological Authority in making sure that Tanzania’s society is aware of what might happen regarding disasters.

Tanzania government

Vice President’s Office findings indicate that climate change and the frequency and severity of extreme climatic events are increasing. “In the last 40 years Tanzania has experienced severe and recurring droughts with devastating effects to agriculture, water and energy sectors.

Currently more than 70 per cent of all natural disasters in Tanzania are hydro-meteorological and are linked to droughts and floods,” reads the Vice President’s website.

The situation is becoming worse given the fact that the country’s economic base is depending on the climate sensitive natural resources. As far as farmers fail to produce for export, the GDP is affected. All this is as a result of droughts.

Permanent Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Florence Turuka says, “We need to prepare citizens to adapt with climatic change and their outcomes.”

Predicting what might transpire this year due to climatic change, Turuka says some areas will face hunger because of shortage and unpredictable rains though the government has enough stock to face the calamity and is preparing a strategy to distribute food in the affected areas.

Generally, impacts of climate change are no longer myths hence “preparedness” on what might happen is crucial. Planning and budgeting and engaging community in mitigation activities are important if government and stakeholders want to minimise disasters that might occur. Furthermore, infrastructure, technology and skills of dealing with disasters are areas that Tanzania needs to focus on.