English: Cyber dialogue summary for 7 December 2011, Gender and Climate Change

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Cyber dialogue summary

CLIMATE CHANGE

Date: 7 December 2011

Theme: Migration and climate change

Facilitator: Kubi Rama

Question1: Have you experienced any disasters in your area as a result of climate change?

• Deforestation is the big factor in climate change and there are floods in nothern Namibia currently.
• In Namibia there have been experiences of a lot of disasters with the prospect of more with the incessant rains.
• In Zimbabwe there was cyclone Eline which washed away bridges and infrastructure in the year 2000.

Question 2: When disasters happen do people leave their homes and communities?

• Yes they leave their communities to avoid harm and they go to areas where it is safe for them to live.
• In the north and central southern parts of Namibia, people are left homeless from the floods and have to be moved to higher ground where it is safe but their health is at risk.
• The health risks are posed by the dirty water and people are prone to water borne diseases.
• Namibia has experienced communities leaving regions and also the country due to the rain that has caused the floods.
• In nothern Namibia floods cause communities to move and in southern Namibia dams have overflown and displaced rural communities.
• Others have had to move because of droughts.

Question 3: Does the government of namibia have a disaster management plan?

• It supplies food and medicine and not housing.
• Every year the Namibian government prepares itself for floods in advance.
• Namibia’s governments planning fails to include certain aspects that are unpredictable rendering the process useless although their efforts are commendable.
• There is a unit that assists with tents and food but we havent heard of a plan.

Question 4: What kind of gender considerations should be included in the disaster management plan?

• Educating and informing the women and men.
• Rural women should be prioritised as they are the most affected and it leaves them disadvantaged.
• Women should be part of the policy making team.
• Disaster plans should look at ways to reduce climate change so that they can reduce the magnitude of disasters.
• Women can be encouraged to emulate the policies of the late Wangari Maathai from Kenya while also taking into consideration other plans such as how to contribute towards combating pollution issues.
• People in disaster prone areas should be supplied with emergency kits and shelters for the affected.