Editorial.

Abstract

This editorial introduces an issue of Focus on Gender that explores some of the dilemmas facing emergency relief programs and records the particular experiences of women in crisis situations. The editorial opens by noting that, while it is now widely recognized that gender considerations are essential to development programs, many funders and agencies consider gender considerations irrelevant or optional to the disaster relief efforts that occupy an increasingly large portion of the development agenda. Factors that create a false dichotomy between development and relief efforts include the sudden visibility of the impact of disasters and the requirement for swift responses. Relief efforts also involve different funding and complex logistics. A prevailing theme of the papers in this issue is the need to consider relief and development as parts of the same process. Various papers point to the vital importance of understanding gender relations in times of disaster so that relief workers avoid the mistake of handing over women's traditional responsibilities to men and removing all traditional power held by women. Efforts must be made to understand the impact of disaster on women's reproductive and productive roles. Articles, therefore, explore how important it is to remember women's long-term and strategic interests, to make efforts to reduce violence against women, to meet women's health needs, and to consider women as a resource rather than a burden. The papers show that action taken during disasters can deepen existing gender inequalities or foster positive changes by enhancing rather than diminishing women's position.