Shaleen: ‘Heroic’ stories often unheard

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Country Director for Medical Services Pacific Ashna Shaleen (centre) with MSP representative Taina Gucake and NDMO representative Mesake Mataitoga at the World Humanitarium Celebrations at the Australian High Commission in Suva yesterday. Picture: JOVESA NAISUA

THE work women perform in disasters is nothing short of heroic, but too often these stories are unheard and not recognised, says country director for Medical Services Pacific Ashna Shaleen.

She highlighted this while speaking at the World Humanitarian Day celebrations held at the Australian High Commission in Tamavua yesterday. The theme for this year is “Women Humanitarians”.

She said a crisis hit everyone hard, but they hit women and girls differently and often disproportionately to men.

“Largely because they heighten pre-exesisting discrimination, marginalisation, and exclusion that pervade already in societies,” she said.

“Women from disaster-affected communities provide enormous leadership in times of crisis since they were the first ones on the ground.

“They often take responsibility for evacuating the injured, young, elderly and safety and security are at the forefront of their agenda.”

Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Fiji Anna Dorney said Australia remained committed to its friends and partners by responding to humanitarian crises in the Pacific.

“Recognising the unprecedented scale of humanitarian need, Australia has committed to increasing its humanitarian funding to more than $F736.4 million ($A500m) next year,” she said.

“We will continue to work with the Government of Fiji, in particular the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meterological Services to strengthen its ability to build resilience, prepare for and respond for future emergencies.”

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