Applying Women, Peace, and Security Considerations to a Cross-Border Disaster Response

Résumé du livre

The authors apply the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) framework to a fictional scenario of a Category 5 hurricane disaster response along the U.S.-Mexico border to demonstrate how disasters are experienced inequitably by different demographic groups. Through this case study, they reveal the existing knowledge base, data gaps that limit understanding of how natural disasters affect different societal groups, and process gaps or structural assumptions that limit data collection and effective communication during disaster response. In this case study, a Category 5 hurricane has blocked escape or evacuation routes in low lying areas and inflicts major damage to buildings and infrastructure in the Northeastern part of the state of Tamaulipas, requiring massive evacuations and a joint disaster-relief response from the U.S. and Mexican armed forces. The authors focus on disaster response activities conducted on the Mexican side of the border. They aim to outline how WPS and intersectionality principles can be incorporated into primary disaster relief joint-operations conducted by U.S. and Mexican armed forces and to encourage armed forces responders on both sides of the border to think about and incorporate such considerations in their response planning efforts.