Understanding Women's Vulnerability Factors to Natural Hazards in Afghanistan

Abstract

Disaster management is a global challenge. However, women and men are not affectedequally by disasters due to unequal opportunities in disaster management. A review ofrelevant academic literature shows that women become more vulnerable than menduring disasters This study tried to understand the barriers and factors which makeAfghan women more vulnerable to natural disasters through the use of Focused GroupDiscussions (FGD). Data collection for this study includes a literature review, analysisof disaster statistics from the Afghan National Disaster Management Authority(ANDMA), interviews with non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and governmentofficials, and a series of focus group discussions with men and women. The mainfindings from this study shows that the contributing factors to vulnerability are lack ofeducation, health facilities for women, insecurity and the socio- economic structures .Generally low education level and no income and traditional role of women at home arethe main factors that make Afghan women more vulnerable in disasters.