A coalition of women groups comprising of women farmers, traders , young girls and Persons with Disabilities ( PWDs) has appealed for their inclusion in disaster preparedness and response in Nasarawa State.

The group  working in collaboration with Beacon Youth Initiative and  Education as a Vaccine, made this request during an advocacy visit and presentation of a survey on disaster preparedness and response to line ministries in Lafia on Thursday.

Coordinator of Advocacy for Women with Disabilities Initiative (AWWDI) in Nasarawa State, Mrs Asaba Averson said women and PWDs were not victims but leaders in disaster preparedness.

“Disaster affect us all but women, girls and PWDs face the greatest risk,” she said.

She said gender-response disaster plans save lives and called for equity preparedness resilience for all.

Mr Emmanuel Okolo, Executive Director of the Beacon Youth Initiative disclosed that the advocacy visit was part of the African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) project being implemented in the state.

Okolo said the aim was  to seek stronger commitment from the government for the inclusion and participation of women in disaster plans.

He  revealed that there exist gender disparities in disaster preparedness and response and highlighted the vulnerability of women, young girls, and women with disabilities in State.

According him, the state was prone to flooding, drought, and communal crises, hence the need for the advocacy.

He stressed the necessity for women inclusion comprising young girls, and PWDs in key decision-making processes, implementation, and monitoring of disaster response programs.

The survey report provided practical recommendations for a more gender-inclusive approach to disaster preparedness and response.

“Over time, we observed that when it comes to inclusion and participation of women in disaster preparedness and response, most often, they are not being carried along.

“Based on the principle of inclusion that says, ‘There is nothing for us without us,’ we decided to carry out this study, engage with the line ministries to ensure that women, young girls, and women with disabilities are being included in the disaster plan.

“We want to see how their voices can be heard, be included in key decision-making processes, implementation, and monitoring of some of these programmes. We don’t want them to be left behind,” he said.

Responding, officials from various government ministries in the state  pledged to support the implementation of the survey report on gender inclusion in disaster preparedness and response.

Mr Yakubu Kwanta, Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, represented by Permanent Secretary Ibrahim Alhassan, assured the group that his ministry would not only support the development of the report but also its implementation.

“We will not only support, but we will also work with you,” he said.

Mrs Atinuke Chammang, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, emphasised the ministry’s commitment to addressing climate change and its impact on women, girls, and PWDs.

“It’s time to empower our women, girls, PWDs, and include them in the climate change plan so that we can have results,” she said.

Pharm. Emmanuel Yonah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services, described the survey as an “eye opener” for his ministry and promised to include women, young girls, and PWDs in disaster preparedness and response going forward.

On her part, Dr Margaret Elayo, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, represented by Mr Musa Aboki, emphasised the need for gender inclusion in disaster plans, climate change initiatives, and empowerment programmes for women, girls, and PWDs.

She further pledged to include women with disabilities in sanitation exercises as passion about gender inclusion.

The advocacy visit to line ministries was attended by women farmers, traders, school tutors, students, the media among others.