Haitian Women Get Food First

Experts responding to natural disasters say that women and children are especially vulnerable when it comes to obtaining the aid they need. This is especially true when it comes to getting food. Thousands of Haiti's earthquake victims need food and are not getting it because of violence and turmoil at pickup sites. Vehicles carrying food have had to drive away after being mobbed by groups of violent men.

Under a new approach which has worked in other disaster areas, Haitian women no longer have to battle with men at food pickup sites which have become chaotic and dangerous encounters.

The UN World Food Program and its partner World Vision have borrowed the system of handing out coupons and tokens to be redeemed at various food pickup sites. The coupons are given out to women, the disabled and the elderly. In special circumstances, men are allowed to pick up the food, but the majority of the coupons are distributed to the women.

Officials give the food to women because experience has shown that since women are the primary caregivers, the food will be distributed fairly in the family. Also women are less aggressive on the food lines and not apt to sell the food later.

Until more food arrives, bags of rice are being given out, enough to sustain a family of six for two weeks on half the calories they need each day. CARE is presently handing out oil and beans as well.

Leaders and relief personnel have been going into refugee camps and establishing safe procedures to get food distribution where it is most needed. Food lines so far, have been orderly and are protected by armed UN soldiers, American Military and Haitian police.

The food distribution is working fairly well for the most part and the women are pleased, although there were some glitches. Impending gang violence prevented the opening of two sites in Port-au-Prince where UN peacekeepers dispersed the groups with pepper spray. Two sites ran out of food.

But most sites were successful. People hauled away their food supplies and often divided them among family and friends. However, some women quickly handed over their rations to husbands and brothers. But, for the most part, the women kept their food, and brought it back to the refugee camps they now call home.

Sources:

St. Pete times

TheChronicleHerald,ca

Reuters AlertNet