This monitoring system revealed important social trends during the drought and recovery period in southern Madagascar. The three key trends revealed in the survey are:
1) Droughts are perceived to increase the incidence of violence against women.
Even before the drought, life in southern Madagascar was particularly difficult for women. The southern region already has the highest incidence of violence against women and girls, particularly regarding sexual violence, with 16% of women and girls reporting violence, compared to the national average of 7%. Cultural norms and beliefs regarding gender and vague and weak laws regarding violence contributed to the problem.
But the drought made the situation even worse. As domestic tasks traditionally seen as women’s responsibilities, such as fetching water and preparing meals, became increasingly difficult, women faced the risk of violent backlash from male household members. At its peak, 47% of survey respondents reported that violence against women was getting worse. The study also found that women actively try to reduce the impact of food insecurity on their families by being the first to reduce food intake to ensure their children are fed.
2) Gang violence, such as theft and cattle raiding, increased during the drought.
Low-level regional conflict has persisted in southern Madgascar for many years. Cattle raiding in the area is carried out by organized groups, but at the local level it is a gathering of young people seeking income. Survey respondents attributed the increase in hunger and poverty during the drought to an increase in opportunistic cattle raiding and other harms such as theft, kidnapping, and murder as people sought to generate income in any way they could. It is associated.
3) Prolonged drought intensified migration.
Moving is a last resort, carried out only when other household coping mechanisms, such as finding alternative sources of income, changing food consumption, or selling household items, do not work. Research shows that migration patterns within and outside the region intensify during droughts, and expected new opportunities often fail to materialize. For example, female migrants face an increased risk of gender-based violence, including human trafficking and other forms of discrimination.
These social impacts of Madagascar’s drought have made already poor people even more vulnerable and excluded, making their path out of poverty and towards sustainable development even more difficult. The World Bank is working with the Government of Madagascar to bring a holistic perspective by considering the social impact of the response in southern Madagascar. The Bank is developing ways to track and understand the full range of social impacts of drought, while continuing efforts to strengthen food security, restart family farming, improve drought resilience, and manage water resources. are researching. We are looking for solutions to help facilitate support and stabilize communities after major social disruptions. Data suggests that full recovery in southern Madagascar will only be completed once the social impacts of the disaster are addressed.