Women were less likely to survive because they couldn’t run as quickly as men, climb trees, cling to debris, or swim. Because the tsunami hit on a Sunday, many women were at home with their children. Their efforts to save their children slowed their flight. Also, other women were waiting on beaches for the fishermen to return home. Men, by contrast, were fishing at sea, where the waves were not as fierce.

Surviving Women are Vulnerable
The resulting gender imbalance has made life difficult for surviving women in Aceh, one of the areas hardest hit by the tsunami. Many survivors live in temporary camps, which are overcrowded and lack privacy. Surviving women, and widows in particular, are vulnerable both physically and financially.

In one camp last May, three women who were widowed during the tsunami talked in hushed voices about a sexual assault that a woman from the camp suffered a few days earlier. Nobody wanted to go to the police, to give names or details, because they are afraid of reprisal.

“Although there is a lot of assistance for the victims of the tsunami in Aceh, there is still a potential problem of men exploiting women and children,” says Doris Knoechel, a World Vision humanitarian protection specialist. “We can prevent injustice against women if we give them tools and skills to defend their rights. Empowerment is a protection.”

World Vision Helps Women

Protection
World Vision has set up a protection unit of 16 specialists, who work in three areas—human rights and dignity, land ownership, and women’s livelihood. The unit visits communities to assess women’s vulnerability and take action, such as creating projects that empower women to earn a living.

Land Ownership
Many women inherited land after their husbands’ deaths. But they can’t claim their property until they receive a legacy certificate from the court. Staff members help women navigate the court system, encouraging them to assert their right to property.

Livelihood
Staff members help women establish business groups, learn skills, and develop innovative products for the market. World Vision provides capital in the form of equipment, supplies, and raw materials.