When disasters such as hurricanes, floods, fires, or droughts occur, the most visible impacts are often damaged homes, destroyed crops, and disrupted infrastructure. However, crises also create less visible consequences by deepening existing social inequalities, particularly gender inequality. Women and girls frequently face increased risks during emergencies, including higher exposure to violence, heavier caregiving responsibilities, difficulties accessing healthcare, and greater challenges in restoring their livelihoods. These risks arise not because women are inherently more vulnerable, but because unequal access to resources, information, and decision-making power limits their ability to respond and recover.
To address these issues, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) promotes a humanitarian approach focused on protection, gender, and inclusion. This framework aims to ensure that aid is delivered safely, fairly, and with dignity to all affected populations. Across the Americas, Red Cross humanitarian operations apply this approach through practical measures that recognize the specific risks and needs faced by women, girls, and adolescents during crises.
One major focus is protection and safety. Disasters can disrupt housing, schools, health services, and community networks, increasing the risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse. In response, Red Cross teams work to create safer environments by establishing child-friendly spaces, training volunteers to identify protection risks, and setting up referral systems for victims of violence. In countries like Colombia, shelters and specialized support services are provided to women and girls displaced by crises, including access to healthcare, nutrition services, education opportunities, and employment support.
Disasters also intensify the burden of unpaid care work, which often falls disproportionately on women. After emergencies, tasks such as collecting water, preparing food, and cleaning damaged homes can significantly increase, limiting women’s ability to participate in economic recovery activities. Red Cross operations therefore aim to restore essential services like water and sanitation while encouraging communities to share domestic responsibilities more equitably.
Mental health support is another key aspect of humanitarian response. Disasters frequently lead to long-term psychological stress, anxiety, and trauma, particularly among women who often carry increased family and caregiving responsibilities. In countries such as Cuba and Jamaica, the Red Cross has provided psychosocial support following major storms by offering psychological first aid, community support sessions, and activities for children to help families cope with fear, grief, and loss.
Health services are also strengthened to ensure that women continue to receive essential care during emergencies. In many parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, health facilities providing reproductive and maternal services are located in areas vulnerable to natural hazards, which can disrupt care during disasters. Red Cross initiatives therefore include improving healthcare infrastructure, distributing hygiene and menstrual health supplies, and ensuring access to clean water and sanitation to protect women, mothers, and newborns.
Supporting livelihoods is another critical step in recovery. Women often face additional barriers when trying to rebuild their economic activities due to limited access to land, financing, and employment opportunities. Red Cross programmes therefore provide financial assistance such as cash transfers or vouchers that allow families to purchase essential supplies, restart farming activities, or meet urgent needs after disasters.
Access to information also plays a vital role in protecting communities. During emergencies, accurate and accessible information can help families make safe decisions about water use, health, and available support services. Red Cross volunteers frequently conduct community education campaigns to share practical guidance and reduce fear and uncertainty following disasters.
The organization also emphasizes community participation and the recognition of local knowledge. Women often possess valuable knowledge related to agriculture, environmental management, and community health, particularly in rural and indigenous communities. Humanitarian responses therefore encourage women’s active involvement in planning and decision-making processes to strengthen resilience and ensure that responses reflect local realities.
Finally, collecting detailed data on gender, age, and other social factors helps humanitarian organizations better understand who is most affected by crises. This information allows the Red Cross to identify service gaps and adapt its responses to ensure that aid reaches those who need it most, ultimately improving the effectiveness and fairness of disaster response efforts across the region.
