In times of crisis and beyond

Around the world, women and girls are leading their communities through times of crisis, ensuring the needs of those most vulnerable in an emergency are not overlooked.

ActionAid's approach in an emergency is to empower local women to lead the response. Local women know best what their communities need, and are able to get life-saving supplies quickly and fairly to those who need it most.

From providing food, medicine and shelter to those impacted by the Bangladesh and Nepal floods in recent years to ensuring children and parents receive the psychosocial care they needed in the aftermath of the Myanmar, Türkiye and Syria earthquakes, women are often the first responders, taking risks and playing a critical role in the survival of families and communities around the world.

Read about the women and girls who are helping their communities to recover from and prepare for future crises.

From rescue to recovery: Nahida’s response to the Bangladesh floods

In August 2024, severe rains led to flash floods that wiped out entire communities across Bangladesh. More than five million people were affected, with 71 people dead and over 500,000 displaced into emergency shelters. Millions were left in urgent need of humanitarian assistance having lost their homes, crops and livelihoods.

ActionAid partnered with local organisations in several districts to support search and rescue responses, meeting the urgent needs of those impacted by supplying food, medicine and hygiene kits.

Nahida, an executive member of the youth-led organisation Service for Human Being Organisation (SHBO) felt a strong sense of responsibility to help those affected by the floods. Nahida coordinated volunteers to bring as many people as possible to safe shelter and formed search teams who rescued over 300 people.

However, with millions still requiring immediate support she led her team to deliver relief supplies such as baby food, dry food, basic medicines, clean clothes and water purifying kits to more than 2000 families in the flood-affected neighbourhoods of Noakhali.

She also took the initiative to set up a community kitchen in shelters in Shonaimuri serving hot meals twice a day. The initiative began by providing for 500 people per day and escalated to supporting 1500 people per day.

Nahida a volunteer coordinating the flood response in the Noakhali district of Bangladesh.

Fahad Kaizer/ ActionAid Bangladesh

Nisreen, volunteer at the community bakery where she helps distribute bread to communities who have been forcibly displaced.

Wattan Media Network/ ActionAid

How Palestinian women are leading the crisis response

Women-led organisations across the occupied Palestinian territories are delivering life-saving support to those who need it most, including providing essential access to food, water and shelter, medical and psychological support, as well as services to prevent and protect women from gender-based violence.

Nisreen works as a volunteer at a community bakery, set up by Wefaq Association to provide bread to communities who have been forcibly displaced during the war on Gaza.

Women and girls in Gaza have faced greater food insecurity, being more likely than men to eat least and last, and with pregnant and lactating women facing the highest health and malnutrition risks. The Wefaq Association is a women-led non-governmental organisation in Gaza and partner of ActionAid, which supports marginalised communities, particularly women and children and those living with disabilities.

With bread and flour susceptible to huge price hikes and often in short supply due to the restrictions on delivery of aid imposed by Israel, Wefaq has established community bakeries, where Nisreen and other volunteers from the community prepare and distribute bread to around 700 families in the area. Nisreen says that the clay ovens are providing people with a daily loaf of bread.

"We have a great responsibility towards the displaced and towards family members to be able to provide a daily loaf of bread for their children."

Rooted in resilience: how agroecology is supporting women

When devastating floods hit Zandi’s community in the Kabare territory in The Democratic Republic of Congo, landslides caused by the heavy rain meant their crops were destroyed and many homes were left uninhabitable.

Zandi, along with her husband and five children, explained how the rains destroyed everything. "They destroy our fields and harvests, leaving us without food. There are days we are forced to sleep hungry.”

Deforestation in the area has increased the vulnerability of those who live nearby, exposing them to a greater risk of flooding and landslides.

Despite these challenges, communities in Mushonezo, Democratic Republic of Congo, have demonstrated resilience and adaptation through community-led initiatives and partnerships.

Zandi took part in a local agroecology programme developed to combat landslides and the impacts of climate change on the community.

"I learned how to plant sugar canes and with that, I was able to buy a goat and school supplies for children, they've had a great start to the new school year. I have also planted potatoes and after harvesting we were able to pay for school fees for the kids in secondary school, and with the rest, it's all about self-sufficiency.”

Esther N'sapu/ ActionAid

Zandi, a Rooted Resilience member, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Thank you for supporting women and girls as they lead their communities through times of crisis

If you were inspired by these stories, please make a donation to support women and girls as they turn times of adversity into opportunity for resilience, empowerment, and community strength.

Donate now