Paper details
| Paper authors | Sneha Krishnan, Nitesh Lohan, Philomena Wambui |
| In panel on | Disaster Risk Reduction in Fragile, Conflict-Affected, and Vulnerable (FCV) Contexts: Strategies for Protracted Crises |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
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Abstract
In fragile and conflict areas, cultural violence is strategized through various structural
and institutional forms of violence against women exacerbating their vulnerabilities. Disaster
risk reduction strategies tend to prioritise gender mainstreaming as a programmatic outcome
without paying adequate attention to the heterogeneity, diversity and intersectionality of the
gendered experiences and consequences.
South Sudan’s population – and in particular, South Sudanese women – are
experiencing floods, displacement, conflict, and the lasting impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic, all in a country with a nascent health system and deeply vulnerable to the
consequences of climate change. This research posits intersectional feminism as a lens to
understand South Sudanese women’s intersectional vulnerabilities as well as an approach for
risk reduction across multiple crises. The study relied on data gathered in 2021 (phase 1) and
2023 (phase 2) using semi-structured interviews, household surveys, focus group discussions,
and key informant interviews. In December 2023, during a field visit in the camps in Juba
interviews with key informants and stakeholders were conducted to understand how mass
displacement from Sudan, and resultant chronic food insecurity were being addressed.
The above quote refers to women’s menstrual experiences whereby due to lack of
access to menstrual hygiene materials during floods women said they let it (menstrual blood)
flow. The several findings from this study underline how existing disaster risk reduction
initiatives are limited and prone to failure due to several programmatic, operational and
financial constraints. Within existing patterns of structural and physical violence women
continue to face sexual and gender-based violence, as well as the cycles of violence, injustice
and oppression while repeatedly rebuilding and recovering through recurring cycles of
overlapping disasters. A critical pathway for building intersectional climate action and
disaster resilience in fragile and conflict affected settings requires supporting women’s
groups and enhancing their participation across other community-based organizations, as well
as key decision-making state bodies. Finally, disaster risk reduction in fragile and conflict
areas must undoubtedly be intersectional, addressing and challenging the patriarchal and
other structures, postcolonial, neoliberal, global capital, and others that perpetuate violence
against women. It is one thing to take an intersectional and inclusive approach for disaster
risk reduction; however, without transformational action, structural inequities will
undoubtedly persist.
