From Pakistan to Syria, women rise to the humanitarian challenge in disaster zones

07 Jun 23 130 0 0

From Pakistan to Syria, women rise to the humanitarian challenge in disaster zones

Cool Story - From Pakistan to Syria, women rise to the humanitarian challenge in disaster zones

Women are frequently seen as a particularly vulnerable and even helpless demographic during the war and natural calamities. According to UN data, women and children are 14 times more likely than males to perish in natural catastrophes.

Nonetheless, recent natural disasters, such as floods in Pakistan and earthquakes in both Turkiye and Syria, have highlighted how women's empowerment has enabled them to take on leading roles in their communities after damaging catastrophes.

Women have risen to the difficulties posed by these disasters even in nations where there are social constraints on women's movement.

Dozens of women joined the rescue volunteers who raced to disaster areas in the wake of the earthquakes that struck southern Turkey and northern Syria on February 6, leaving tens of thousands dead and hundreds of thousands homeless. Several ladies offered their services as volunteers to assist in distributing food and relief, cooperating with organizations, and even starting their impromptu groups.

Turkish Social Gastronomy Chef Ebru Baybara Demir and other ladies work frantically to make hot meals in the chilly weather for the earthquake victims.

Demir was in Istanbul for business meetings when word of the earthquake that devastated huge portions of Turkiye arrived. The earthquake severely damaged her city, Mardin.

Demir and partner chef Turev Uludag started cooking for the residents of the earthquake-stricken city of Osmaniye almost immediately. A soup kitchen was set up at the Ministry of Youth and Sports' dorm kitchens in the city, where a team of volunteers cooked 25,000 meals on just the first day.

We worked quickly on the first day, Demir told Arab News. We started to announce that we wanted volunteers to help with meal preparation, including cooking, washing, and chopping, as well as food ingredients. Our friends, chefs, and volunteers from different cities began to come. Businesses have begun to fund the food, logistics, and other supplies we require. The help needed to be ongoing.

"Ladies, men, kids, old people, young people, and children are working together to benefit everyone. Nonetheless, I'm confident that women will save the day," Demir remarked.

Almost 42,300 people were killed by the earthquake in Turkiye, and the nation suffered economic damages of around $25 billion.

Women are equally crucial to saving their communities in Syria, which is next door.

"For me, there is a tremendous change (happening)," Syrian nurse midwife Najah Khaled told Arab News. Khaled, together with a group of two physicians, two nurses, and a pharmacist, volunteered to provide medical assistance to those in need after her nation was hit by an earthquake.

To travel daily to the earthquake-stricken Jinderis, a town in the Afrin region of the country's northwest, Khaled postponed her medical studies in her hometown of Azaz, north of Aleppo, after the earthquake.

She said, "There are things in life that become much more essential than pursuing your interests or worrying about things that lose significance in trying circumstances.

"Women know exactly what kind of challenges families confront. Women are aware of the issues that other women, especially those who are weaker, are dealing with. Women become powerless to make decisions as a result of these issues.”

Seven young men and women work for E.A.’s team, which is supported by private donations from both inside and outside of Syria. The organization gives earthquake victims their necessities, such as clothing, medicine, and sanitary pads.

The group looks for unique situations that elude aid programs as well as people who do not formally request assistance. Additionally, they help with tent setup, construct bathrooms close to tents set up by those who were made homeless by the earthquake, and provide financial aid to those who need to rebuild their damaged homes. Other organizations operate to provide essential services like water and power.

"But, I think that the most challenging aspect is that those who have lost loved ones don't have time to grieve, and they don’t have any place to go,” E.A. said. “Women try to be strong and show strength.”

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