When disasters hit conflict zones, humanitarian response efforts often expose and intensify entrenched vulnerabilities and inequalities, frequently overlooking the needs of marginalised communities and the intersectional impacts of conflict. This was our urgent message that formed the core of our peace panel at the 11th Geneva Peace Week (GPW), where WILPF, alongside our Syrian partners The Syria Campaign (TSC) and International Bridges to Justice (IBJ), emphasised the importance of a feminist, intersectional approach in addressing the compounded impacts of disaster and conflict.
Anchored in WILPF’s Beyond Survival project, the session featured a screening of the project’s docuseries followed by a hybrid panel discussion. Syrian feminist activists, Women Human Right Defenders (WHRDs) and first responders advocated for a reimagined humanitarian response that centres women’s leadership, prioritises the needs of those most affected and upholds the principle of putting people over politics.
Moderated by Lubna Alkanawati, Executive Director at Women Now for Development, the panel featured Hayma Al Yousfi, Feminist Researcher and General Program Manager at The Syrian Female Journalists Network (SFJN) and lead researcher of WILPF’s Beyond Survival research; Hanadi Alloush, Program Manager at Damma (Hug) and co-lead researcher of the analysis; Dalal El Taher, Board Member of Syria Civil Defence – The White Helmets; and Zeina Halawi, Co-founder of the Free Aleppo Lawyers Association (FABA) and survivor of the earthquake in Northwest Syria.
Unpacking the Critical Intersectionality of Disasters, Conflict and Gender
The session underscored the complex intersections between disaster, conflict and gender, exploring how overlapping crises intensify pre-existing vulnerabilities and demand a feminist, intersectional approach to humanitarian response.
Al Yousfi highlighted how the 2023 earthquake in Syria exposed these deep vulnerabilities, impacting regions already scarred by years of conflict, displacement and economic instability. She described the politicisation of humanitarian aid, where access was manipulated by political agendas, delaying life-saving relief to opposition-controlled areas. She shared a poignant testimony from a local woman, “We heard people screaming for help under the rubble but couldn’t do anything,” underscoring how many lives could have been saved if not for border closures — which were heavily influenced by Russian vetoes at the UN Security Council and the Syrian government’s insistence on controlling aid flows through Damascus.
As a survivor of the earthquake in Gaziantep, Al Yousfi also highlighted the challenges Syrians faced in Turkey, where discrimination hindered their access to aid and many feared seeking help due to potential deportation. Syrians in Turkey encountered politicised manoeuvring in rescue operations, aid distribution, and access to services imposed by the Turkish government, compounded by a surge in hate speech and pervasive negative sentiment. This illustrates how compounded vulnerabilities can transcend both borders and crises.
Similarly, Halawi painted a harrowing picture of life for Syrians in Azaz, Northwest Syria, where the earthquake struck with a force as devastating as the ongoing war, compounding trauma and intensifying fear, especially among women. “We were all afraid and we did not want to go back inside. We spent almost a month living in our cars,” she recalled, further emphasising the urgent need for tailored humanitarian responses that address the unique needs of women and children amid this deepening crisis. The earthquake, Halawi explained, brought new layers of hardship, with many already displaced individuals losing vital documents, further obstructing access to essential rights and services. Legal complexities have also surged, with cases involving document reissuance, custody disputes, and inheritance, often tied to profound family loss and limited support structures.
Moderator Lubna Al Kanawati also highlighted the long-term consequences of such disasters, emphasising the role of peacemakers in navigating intersecting challenges—from economic pressures and geopolitical tensions to militarisation and international complicity. She shared a powerful call to action: “We are not here to trigger your feelings. We want to trigger your action and your power.”
Women as Frontline Leaders in Crisis Response
The discussion highlighted the vital role of women’s leadership in disaster response. Despite intersecting challenges, Syrian women have emerged as resilient leaders post-earthquake, leveraging their understanding of local contexts and unique expertise to meet urgent needs and implement strategic responses. Acting as first responders, journalists and legal advocates, they infused a crucial feminist perspective into the response—yet traditional humanitarian responses too often overlook their contributions.
El Taher shared her experience leading rescue operations in Northwest Syria, showcasing the resilience of women on the frontlines and the need for a feminist humanitarian approach to ensure inclusive, effective crisis interventions. “One of the most vital roles that demonstrated the importance of women’s work in the humanitarian response was when we helped bring people out from under the rubble. The second role women played during the earthquake was providing first aid and primary healthcare to revive the injured and keep them alive,” she recounted, emphasising how gender distinctions faded in the field. She also underscored the importance of psychological support, training and empowerment for women in frontline roles, which emerged as essential components of a feminist approach in the aftermath of the crisis.
Al Yousfi elaborated on the critical role of women journalists who, beyond covering events, brought a feminist lens to the response itself. “They didn’t only report on the earthquake as a natural disaster; they explored how pre-existing gender inequalities shaped the disaster’s impact, exposing issues like the unique challenges faced by female-headed households, and the increased risks of gender-based violence in temporary shelters,” she shared.
Intersecting Crises in Lebanon: The Urgent Need for Inclusive Humanitarian Action
The conversation extended to other regional crises, including the escalating violence in Lebanon, which has tragically uprooted Syrian refugees once again.
Currently based in Lebanon, Alloush connected the discussion on earthquake response to Lebanon’s ongoing humanitarian crisis, where Syrians endure severe discrimination. “Today, the intersection of conflict, gender and disaster is more brutal than ever. Refugee women, already marginalised, now face exploitative conditions in shelters,” she explained, emphasising the gendered impact of Lebanon’s crumbling infrastructure, which places added burdens on women, girls and persons with disabilities—groups often overlooked in traditional humanitarian frameworks. A crucial point raised by Alloush was the denial of access to government shelters for Syrian refugees by Lebanese authorities. “In one case, four families took refuge in an official shelter at the Gaza school in Lebanon. After a week, intelligence services discovered them and forced them back onto the street, where they faced violence and mistreatment. Women had their documents confiscated, leaving them in an extremely vulnerable situation,” she recounted, underscoring the critical need for inclusive, protective policies for refugee women and other marginalised groups amidst such disasters.
A Call for Feminist Humanitarian Action
Reflecting on these intersectional challenges and the crucial role that women play on the frontlines, the event underscored the urgent need for a feminist and gender-responsive approach to disaster response and humanitarian efforts.
A feminist-driven disaster response goes beyond acknowledging women’s challenges and roles; it actively supports, elevates, and learns from their leadership. This approach promotes a holistic strategy across the triple nexus of peace, humanitarian support, and development, centring intersectionality, local leadership and the gendered dynamics of conflicts. As the world faces increasingly complex humanitarian challenges, the need for inclusive, feminist-led responses is more essential than ever.
At the Geneva Peace Week closing ceremony, our partner, Lubna Alkanawati, made a bold statement by holding up a “CEASEFIRE NOW” poster and calling for an immediate arms embargo on Israel. The message resonated across the room, emphasising that remaining silent in the face of genocide equates to complicity.
