Using gender-sensitive disaster relief approaches after Cyclone Chido

Cyclone Chido struck Mozambique on Dec. 15, 2024, with violent winds of 160 mph and more than 250 mm of rainfall in the first 24 hours. Families and communities are currently grappling with the unprecedented destruction it caused. However, among the hardest hit are children, particularly girls, who face risks of exploitation, abuse, and emotional trauma in disaster scenarios. Amid these harrowing circumstances, gender-sensitive disaster relief approaches have become an essential tool to ensure the safety and recovery of vulnerable children. One such approach is the newly introduced hotline by Street Child, a global organization dedicated to the welfare of children in crises. In a media release Michael Jumo, Street Child country director for Mozambique, said the humanitarian catastrophe caused by Cyclone Chido has brought hopelessness, agony, and anguish among children who are in disbelief and bewildered by the magnitude of destruction caused by the cyclone. As in many cases, the emotional toll of the cyclone has exacerbated existing gender inequalities, leaving girls more isolated and less able to access help or recovery services. The hotline initiated by Street Child is helping to address mental health concerns. Allowing individuals to report safety concerns and access immediate support, from emergency shelters to psychosocial counseling. Jumo told Devex that the hotline has been especially vital for girls, who are more likely to be overlooked in traditional disaster response efforts. He said through the platform that girls can report cases of abuse or exploitation adding that the hotline is designed to cater to the specific needs of women and girls, ensuring that there are adequate support systems in place, such as female counselors and gender-sensitive advice on how to protect children from harm. “This focus on gender is vital, as it acknowledges the different and often more severe challenges that girls face in the aftermath of disasters,” he said. While organizations such as UNICEF, World Vision, Plan International, Médecins Sans Frontières, or MSF, and CARE already play an essential role in responding to the immediate and long-term needs for disaster situations, they also acknowledge that gender-sensitive strategies must be central to effective disaster relief. In the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, these organizations have been focusing their interventions on the specific needs of women and girls, with an understanding that disaster recovery is not one-size-fits-all. Tom Dannatt, chief executive of Street Child said that the scale of the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido is immense, and the organization is working in partnership with other international and local organizations as well as with the country’s Ministry of Health. “Unicef is our main partner and has provided us with two multi-purpose tents for installation of child multi-purpose centers, 20 recreational kits, 5 tarpaulin tents and have also provided funding for case management and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) activities,” he said. In Mozambique, UNICEF has long championed the rights of children in emergencies, ensuring that efforts to provide emergency education, health care, and protection services are inclusive of gender-specific needs. “Mozambique is considered one of the most affected countries in the world by climate change and children were already experiencing several life-threatening emergencies before Cyclone Chido, including conflict, drought, and disease outbreaks,” said Mary Louise Eagleton, UNICEF representative in Mozambique. She said UNICEF, along with the government, other United Nations agencies, NGOs, and local partners, are responding and prioritizing decisive actions for emergency humanitarian action despite the enormous challenges children face in the country. Similarly, World Vision has emphasized the importance of safeguarding women and children during humanitarian crises, providing specialized programs to address the risks of gender-based violence, and ensuring that response mechanisms are tailored to the needs of the most vulnerable. World Vision and CARE have also integrated gender-sensitive approaches into their disaster response programs, ensuring that women and girls have equal access to resources, protection, and support during and after disasters. These large organizations have been instrumental in raising awareness about the importance of gender equality in disaster recovery, working alongside Street Child to offer comprehensive solutions. Despite these efforts, the scale of the current disaster underscores the need for even more focused, gender-sensitive approaches. With the number of affected individuals rising daily, the demand for shelter, mental health services, and child protection resources continues to grow, particularly in rural and remote areas where access to support is limited. According to Dannat, the gender-sensitive model should not just be a short-term intervention — it should be a long-term strategy aimed at mitigating the broader, often hidden impacts of disasters on children, particularly girls. “In disasters like Cyclone Chido, girls are at increased risk of sexual violence, forced marriages, and exploitation as families struggle to survive,” he explained.