Project context in Bam
Challenges of Disaster Management in Bam and
Links to WED/YED for Sustainable Development in the Reconstruction Efforts
On 26 December 2003, an earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck the
city of Bam and the surrounding villages in Kerman province, south-eastern Iran
at 5.26 a. m and as it happened very early in the morning, most of the
inhabitants were sleeping, which was one of the reasons for the great loss of
life. The total population of Bam and the neighbouring villages affected by the
earthquake was 142, 376, of these, 26,271 perished, 525 are still missing and
left 1,301 more women widows, bringing the total number of widows in the area to
1,916. The earthquake left more than 75,000 people homeless. Of the houses,
commercial units, health facilities and administrative buildings in the city of
Bam and the surrounding villages, some 85 % were severely damaged or destroyed.
A high percentage of the workforce was either killed or injured. Among the
figures provided by the local government of Bam, the earthquake caused the death
of 3,700 commercial personnel. 5000 workers died, 3500 children were orphaned
and 200 women were seriously injured. The historic citadel of Bam (Arg-e-Bam), a
national heritage site and popular tourist attraction was heavily damaged.
Worldwide, 60 percent of all deaths from natural disasters in 2003 came from the
Bam earthquake.
The impact of the earthquake has left deep scars on
different sectors of the local economy and the worst hit were the agriculture
and horticulture sectors that were at the centre of Bam’s financial success. As
a result of the earthquake, nearly 60% of the agricultural infrastructure
(irrigation and related systems) was destroyed and about 1500 hectares of dates
(Bam is the date capital of the world) plantations are facing the prospect of a
40-50% reduced production and a similar prospect faces the horticulture sector
as well as the local milk producers. There were about 393 “quanats” (underground
canals from natural springs providing irrigation for agriculture purposes)
according to the report published from the Governor-General’s office of which 65
were badly affected and 38 were completely destroyed. The extent of damage to
this unique form of irrigation is presently being assessed by the UNDP/FAO for
repair. During 2003, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) trained
3000 people from Bam at its centres located at the Technical and Vocational
Training Organizations (TVTO) and provided them with access to small loans to
set up small businesses. Several of these have been destroyed by the recent
earthquake.
As many as 10,000 men and women, many of them young persons
in their productive age, are currently unemployed including 1,800 workers from
the local automobile factory (Daewoo) which closed down prior to the earthquake.
The unemployment rate prior to the earthquake was estimated by the Ministry of
Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) as 12%-13% in Kerman province. Due to the high
incidence of drug addiction among the male population of Bam, women have been
playing a crucial economic role especially in managing micro-enterprises to
serve as sustainable livelihood support. There are unconfirmed reports of a
recent increase in trafficking as a result of the unexpected impoverishment of
Bam since the earthquake. Six of the existing centres of the Ministry of Labour
and Social Affairs (MOLSA) for technical training were destroyed and many of the
staff and student lost their lives. At present MOLSA is compiling the labour
market information records for the pre-earthquake period as some of these have
been destroyed and for the post-earthquake phase, steps have been initiated to
make a rapid market survey that can serve as the basis of for assessing the
demand for skills training and on-the-job training needs.
The micro and
small-scale industries in the ‘quake-affected areas have suffered large-scale
damage (similar to that experienced in Gujarat on 26th January 2001). This has
resulted in the loss of employment and income for thousands of people,
particularly women micro entrepreneurs. There is at present widespread
destitution among micro and small-scale entrepreneurs, both women and men, and
many are migrating into neighbouring towns and cities. They need special
attention particularly the local artisans who have been most adversely affected
as they have lost their traditional form of employment. Their toolkits and
inventories of finished, semi-finished products and raw materials have been
destroyed along with their houses. The whole chain of raw material procurement,
marketing and distribution of products got disrupted as well. This is an
economically vulnerable group and failure to provide speedy relief to them may
result in their switching out their traditional professions. There is not only a
danger of losing a part of the cultural heritage but also the know-how and
production structure of items of value for future export growth.
Impact of Earthquake on Women and Youth The Bam earthquake had a
differential impact on women and men and also on the youth. To portray women
solely as victims, denies them their identity and obscures the new opportunities
that the disaster may create for them. Similarly it is important to remember
that men are also victims of earthquake.
Identity is of critical
importance. The displaced women of Bam who comprise nearly 50% of the total
population in Bam and its surrounding villages have been uprooted from their
homes, lost their identity, and a new identity has been imposed upon them in
their new surroundings, whether they are in the camps or in the tents set up on
their previous home sites. They receive on registration at the Social Welfare
Organization (SWO) a quarterly allowance of 40,000 toman and for every child an
additional amount (5,000 toman per child) for a maximum of five children. This
is inadequate to meet their daily household requirements and they are compelled
to fall back upon financial assistance from relatives. At present there are no
income-earning opportunities available for them to help them over this financial
crisis, and with the uncertainties regarding the future location of their homes,
the demise of family members and substantial loss of property, they seem
powerless to regain a purpose for continuing to live. The youth of Bam too, both
female and male, who constitute nearly 20-25% of the total population are
finding themselves isolated, distraught with few opportunities to regain their
livelihoods.
Unemployment is a key issue for the women and youth in Bam.
Lack of income earning opportunities is affecting the well being of the
communities, especially the most vulnerable groups, women and youth.
Unemployment has increased tremendously after the ‘quake as women have lost
their male earning members of their families or their businesses or they have
become unemployed. Several instances of emotional and psychological stress have
been reported. The security situation is precarious. Women are afraid to go out
unaccompanied soon after dark and there have been some cases of abductions.
Education is another problem as young women are unable to pay their fees for the
Universities and transportation to and from their educational centres is
difficult, as public transport has been severely disrupted. Elderly women in
these communities are either semi or illiterate and though they have various
skills (often acquired through informal sources or through generations of family
knowledge being handed down) for starting a business, they lack the necessary
support and training and access to resources to launch on their own.
Community interaction and organization have been severely affected by the
earthquake in Bam. This has been exacerbated by the lack of gender awareness in
reconstruction efforts that are further marginalizing women’s needs. Gender,
social exclusion and related issues are relegated as secondary issues. The women
of Bam need their place in these activities to ensure their visibility and
Government departments and other organizations working with earthquake
reconstruction efforts need to ensure the greater participation of women in the
design, implementation and evaluation of policies and practice.
Women in
this area have always had a dual burden to bear – performing the main economic
functions for the household in an environment often marred by the heavy use of
drugs by the male members of society, and their gender which makes them the
victim of cultural and social prejudices resulting in inhibitive constraints.
More so, if they are unmarried due to the social stigma attached to unmarried
young women, as well as single mothers or young widows. They face immense
difficulties in gaining access to productive resources like credit, etc. which
often requires a male guarantor. While development has opened new opportunities
for young women and reduced existing social barriers, at the same it has also
deepened the hold of existing authoritarian structures. There are serious gender
disparities, beginning with women’s unemployment rate that is three times that
of men.
The two major handicaps that women and young members experience
in Bam are: the lack of confidence in their own abilities and society's lack of
confidence in their capabilities. Very little has been done to overcome the
prevailing negative attitude towards women in business and counteracting the
conventional gender roles that encourage women to stay at home rather than start
their own business. Difficulties in finding someone to care for children while
they plan and start their business, gender rivalry, both at home and from other
male entrepreneurs in the workplace are a few of the obstacles they have to
surmount to remain successful in business.
