b'Soroptimist InternationalReport for the High-Level Political ForumCaring Hands Cyclone ReliefIndia, SI CalcuttaIn May 2020, the eastern coast of India was struckCalcuttaensuredthattheshelterscontained byasupercyclonicstorm,communitiesalreadymosquito nets to minimise the spread of diseases struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, particularlycommon after disasters, during humanitarian crises those in the states of West Bengal and Orissa, facedand inreliefcamps. Insomecases wherehomes furthercrisis.Withmanynowhomeless,andwere not too badly damaged, SI Calcutta was able to without food and basic necessities, SI Calcutta knewprovide temporary fixes to roofs to allow people to thatitcouldcontributetoreliefworkatthestay in their own homes until new homes could be grassroots level by establishing temporary shelters.provided.During times of crisis and disaster, it is organisations likeSoroptimistInternational,alreadyactiveinWhile providing this emergency relief, SI Calcutta communities and working on-the-ground, who arewere particularly mindful in ensuring rural women oftenbestplacedtobefirstresponders.Theywereabletoaccessthesupporttheyneeded. already know the needs of communities, where safeDuring and after natural disasters and crises, rural sitesare,andcanensurethatreliefworkiswomen are at particular risk of being left behindcommunity-led. itisharderforthemtoaccessservices,find alternative sources of income and they face higher Working in collaboration with the Research Instituterisks of violence. In addition, many of these women for Human and Agricultural Development and thearethemaincarersoftheirfamiliesandby Sundarban Snehadan Foundation, SI Calcutta waschannelling aid through rural women its possible to abletoactimmediatelytoprovideessentialsupport entire families and the broader community emergency shelter and support for 650 people. SIas well as individuals. Physical but not Social DistancingTrinidad and Tobago, SI San FernandoThedisproportionateimpactsofCOVID-19upondistancing protocols. By liaising with a supermarket womenhasbeendescribedbytheUNSecretarychainSI SanFernandowasable negotiateprices, Generalasashadowepidemic.Womensdiscounts and the availability of free products that employmentrateshavedropped,andwere most needed by the women and their families. corresponding risks of poverty and food insecurityConfined during lockdowns and without income, it haveincreased.Allofthesefactorsmeanthatwas quickly discovered that as well as food, women inequalitieswithincountriesarerisingandwereinneedofcleaningproducts,clothesand regression in gender equality is at the heart of thesebooksaswithschoolclosedthesewomenwere renewedchallenges.Todirectly combatthefoodtryingtoeducatetheirchildrenwithoutthe insecurity experience by women and their familiesnecessaryresources.SISanFernando,likemany due to the impacts of COVID-19, SI San Fernandootherorganisationswhohavesupportedtheir identifiedtwokeygroupsofwomeninneedofcommunity during the COVID-19 pandemic, quickly support. The first group were women who workeddiscoveredthatthepandemicsimpactsrevealed at a tourist centre in Brasso Seco, whose sector hasandcompoundedtheunderlyinginequalitiesand been decimated by COVID-19 and as a result meantchallengesthatexistwithinsociety.SISan thattheyhadlosttheirsourceofincome.TheFernandosintentionistocontinuetoworkto second group were Venezuelan migrants who haveovercome these inequalities. Using this partnership beendisplacedfromtheirowncountry,duetodevelopedduringthepandemictoprovide politicalandsocioeconomicinstability,andimmediate relief to women in need, SI San Fernando widespread violence, during a global pandemic. isadoptingahumanitarian-developmentnexus WorkinginpartnershipwiththeLaRomaineapproach and is seeking to develop the project to Migrant Support Group, SI San Fernando was ableensurethewomenparticipantscanaccess to conduct needs assessments and ensure aid waseducation and training that will empower them in deliveredinaccordancewithgovernmentsocialthe future social and employment environment.36'