A humanitarian aid organization based on the South Coast launched a campaign to highlight gender disparities during disasters and conflicts.
Santa Barbara-based ShelterBox, which provides shelter, aid and supplies to victims of humanitarian crises around the globe, started the She Campaign. The nonprofit is trying to raise awareness that it is women and girls who are hurt the most during emergencies.
“Most women who are forced to flee their homes typically are already poor and vulnerable. Often, the social conditions that marginalize them before a disaster are exacerbated by the challenges they face when a disaster strikes,” says ShelterBox president Kerri Murray.
According to the World Health Organization, women and children account for 75% of refugees and displaced people globally. And the United Nations says women and children are up to 14 times more likely to die during a natural disaster than men.
The "She Campaign" is also empowering women who are valuable in rebuilding after disaster and conflict.