Women’s challenges and capabilities in disasters: A case report of the twin earthquakes of Eastern Azerbaijan, Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The twin earthquakes of eastern Azerbaijan induced considerable devastations of many villages and cities. About 70% of all victims were women and children. The present case report was aimed at describing the lessons learnt from both capabilities and challenges of girls and women after the twin earthquakes of eastern Azerbaijan. Methods: A qualitative approach using in­depth unstructured interviews was used for this study. A total of 13 participants (two men and 11 women), affected by the quakes, were interviewed applying the purposeful sampling method. A manifest content analysis was performed for analyzing the transcribed interviews Case presentation: Two categories of women’s capabilities and challenges and four subcategories of women’s participation in community reconstruction, livelihood efforts, aggravated poverty and violence were extracted from the data which were gathered in the destroyed fields of eastern Azerbaijan. Lessons learnt: Women can play an important role in post­disaster recovery. Consequently, ignoring the challenges and capabilities of women may impede post­disaster development processes, which would adversely affect the whole community.