Meeting Haitian Women's Specific Needs

Food, shelter, water and medical care -- these are critical, universal needs following any disaster. If they're not provided, a humanitarian crisis ensues. Right now, relief workers are struggling to provide aid to the people of Haiti, and the situation remains dire for everyone. But women and children are particularly vulnerable after disasters, and they have distinct needs that must be addressed.

As women's rights group MADRE points out, "Women are often the hardest hit when disaster strikes because they were at a deficit even before the catastrophe." Haiti is the poorest country and has the highest rate of both infant and maternal mortality in the Western hemisphere. The UNFPA reports that seven out of ten women in Haiti have experienced violence, and that 37% of those incidents were sexual. According to a 2008 Amnesty International report, "Haiti is also gripped by shocking levels of violence against girls."

In this time of heightened stress, lawlessness, and homelessness, women and children face an increased threat of violence. Women will find it even harder to support themselves and the children, elderly, and infirm who are disproportionately in their care. Pregnant women and new mothers will be especially vulnerable; their access to reproductive health care will be even more limited in the wake of this disaster.

The Women's Refugee Commission has identified ten critical needs for those displaced by the earthquake in Haiti. Many of them address risks faced specifically or disproportionately by women and children.

There are hundreds of organizations contributing to the relief effort in Haiti. I've provide a roundup of just a few that focus specifically on women's issues after the jump:

V-Day is raising funds for the V-Day Haiti Sorority Safe House, which provides shelter and support to women survivors of domestic violence and their children.

Madre is working with its partner in Haiti, Zanmi Lasante, to bring humanitarian aid into the country.

The Global Fund for Women has supported 18 women and children's organizations in Haiti. Its Crisis Fund allows supporters to contribute specifically to women's peace-building and re-building efforts following a war or disaster.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation is collecting donations for Profamil, which provides sexual and reproductive healthcare in Haiti.

UNFPA (the United Nations Population Fund) is appealing for donations to meet women's emergency maternal health needs in Haiti.

Peacewoman has an entire webpage filled with links to organizations that work with Haitian women.

This coming week, the Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) plans to launch a special section on its website devoted to addressing how the crisis in Haiti is affecting women and women's rights, along with resources for getting involved with the relief effort.

Please feel free to add to my list in the comments section.

Photo Credit: United Nations Development Programme