The Foreign Service Journal, June 2006

J U N E 2 0 0 6 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 41 fter natural disasters strike, in many societies around the world it has traditionally been up to men to take action, leaving women to stoically endure the losses as hapless victims. It is true that this division of labor may reflect the reality that women are disproportionately affected by disasters and the ensuing collapse of public authority. But it means that more than half of a community (i.e., women) remains uninvolved and voiceless in relief, reconstruc- F O C U S O N T H E F U T U R E O F U S A I D C ROSSING THE G ENDER D IVIDE IN D ISASTER R ELIEF A T HE F OREIGN S ERVICE AND RELIEF AGENCIES NEED TO ADDRESS GENDER EQUITY IN DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS . B Y R OXANE R ICHTER Phil Bliss