Climate change, as well as conflict are both a threat to women from the countryside

In the Philippines, This relationship is apparent within Mindanao, which is an agricultural community located in the southernmost part of the island. Despite peace-building efforts to end more than 40 years of ethnic and social conflicts, hostilities persist.

Based on the findings of research conducted by Oxfam and the University of Queensland, Oxfam The violence has primarily affected women, from farmers’ wives to widows of those who were killed in combat. The region has also witnessed an increase in the frequency of droughts and typhoons in the last decade.

Conflict and extreme weather have led to economic and social disruption within Mindanao during the last few months. Studies have shown that an increase in the night-time temperatures in the Philippines can result in a decrease in the yield of rice and biomass by 10 percent.

With limited land resources and constant low productivity, the agricultural output in Mindanao endures prolonged periods of low production along with the risk of food shortages is increasing.

Because wives, young women and widows can get work in seasonal regions faster than men and wives, many women feel being forced to leave the region to seek out jobs that will help stabilize the family’s income and reduce the effects of poverty.

A few women are driven by drought and conflict to move to cities in search of jobs. Brian Evans, CC BY-SA

The results aren’t always positive. When there is conflict or catastrophes, women and children are especially vulnerable to trafficking or sexual abuse as well as prostitution. Locals in areas of scarcity refer to as isang gabi or salop, which is the exchange of sexual favors in exchange for food.

In Mindanao as well as elsewhere in the southern Philippines The movement and trade of minors as well as young Filipino children with the intention to exploit sexually, force labor and human shields is increasing and is estimated to be between between 60,000 and 100,000 children being linked to commercial sexual exploit.

Damage and loss that is not economic are caused by climate change

Female migration is one of the many strategies that rural Filipinos utilize to cope with the changing climate.

When confronted with severe droughts or typhoons, farmers in Mindanao are also forced to face difficult decisions like avoiding meals, selling their livestock, or borrowing money. A lot of families choose to limit consumption of food for adults, instead of feeding younger children and elderly people.

As chair for as the chair of Climate Vulnerable Forum As the chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, the Philippines has encouraged international partners to devise mechanisms to deal with the types of damages and losses that are not economic caused by climate changes.

There is an increasing acceptance that extreme weather doesn’t only impact tangible economic items that are sold on the market, but can also impact other goods that are not tangible.

Flash floods swept through the Philippines in the year 2011. Mathias Eick EU/ECHO, CC BY-SA

In the past, repeated crop failures such as those mentioned above, have forced farmers to enter into long-term lease agreements as well as contracts with private companies as well as traders, typically at high interest rates. Others have been forced to sell their farms, resigning entirely and relocating into cities.

In Mindanao People in Mindanao told University of Queensland and Oxfam researchers that they have now linked every year’s extreme weather with the loss of possessions and family members’ deaths and more hardship, famine, the loss of income and livelihood.

Women’s social-level issues are exacerbated by the specific dangers that they are exposed to during their seasonal move to cities. Stress and anxiety have become a more frequent occurrence throughout their life.

According to findings of the research the research findings show that each of the climateand conflicts-related changes have fundamentally changed values and lifestyles, as well as gender relationships in Mindanao. Cultural and social loss often go unnoticed or not addressed in climate change policy and assessments of disasters.

Pay attention to gender

To assist rural communities in the Philippines adapt to climate change and minimize the negative impacts aid and development initiatives should concentrate on improving the situation of women, specifically widows, female combatants and smallholder farmers who are poor who are often faced with issues with land tenure.

This implies stabilizing the agricultural sector and encouraging investment in farming that is prone to conflict in the parts of the rural Philippines is not possible without long-term reconciliation and peace processes.