Is development aid missing the mark on gender? More than 2,000 delegates of the World Bank member countries have concluded the Bank’s annual “Spring meetings”. Protracted crises are on the rise and at least 67 million women and girls will require humanitarian assistance this year, causing us to ask the question whether we are really doing enough to help these women and girls in crisis.
Jennifer Bose writes about her experience as part of CARE's emergency response in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai in southern Africa.
The effects of cyclone Idai, which hit Malawi two weeks ago, are still being felt as people continue to flock to temporary shelters to seek for refuge.
Mary* (not real name) escaped from floods in her village to seek refuge in a camp 20 kilometres from her village. Life in the camp hasn’t been easy. “I am always afraid to go to sleep,” she says. “Our tents don’t have doors so it’s easy for someone to just slip in and abuse you.”
A large area of Southern Africa remains underwater a week after Hurricane Idai ripped through Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe in one of the worst tropical cyclones the Southern hemisphere has ever seen. These storms are having a devastating impact on those countries least responsible for climate change, and least equipped to handle the strain or bounce back from disasters.
Shafeqa is a mother of three disabled children. Her husband lost his job as a farmer and since then she has had to provide for her family.
Kawather lives in Al-Maafar in Taizz with her husband and four children. “Before the war our life was relatively easy. We were able to feed our children. Now everything has changed. My husband lost his job and the prices of everything went up. He went to the city to look for work but he didn’t find anything.”
Wafa, 25 years old. She goes to University in the morning and works in her shop in the afternoon.After she recieved a business grants, she owns now a small shop where she sells bouquets of artificial roses, hand made accessories and makeup.
Fourteen years ago, Salma’s husband died, leaving her and their six children behind. “It was a very difficult time for me, but when I started working on a farm, things got better and I was able to provide for my children,” recalls the 47-year-old. It was when Salma finally felt that she and her children would be able to live a decent life again, that the war in Syria started.
In FY2023, CARE worked around the world, contributing to saving lives, fighting poverty, and increasing social justice.
