This is the first book to look at gender issues in disasters in the context of South Asia, where disasters have a crucial impact on the development process. It shows how exploring the specific capacities and vulnerabilities of men and women in disaster situations, and taking account of them, will improve the chance of success in development projects. The book also includes two sets of guidelines, for policy makers and for practitioners, to help them address these issues in planning and implementing development and disaster management programmes.

This topical text explores how the risk of disasters can be reduced by structural and non structural measures with detailed, comprehensive strategies.