This International Women’s Day we are standing with women who are affected by disasters around the world. As the number of environmental disasters and conflicts tragically increases exponentially year on year, we know that it is the world’s poorest that are the most affected. But if we zoom in further to these situations of conflict, climate change, economic deprivation, and poverty we can see that women are impacted the most, in fact they are 14 times more likely to die when a disaster strikes than a man according to the British Medical Journal.

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Factors such as gender roles, gender inequalities and societal norms can be exacerbated when an environmental or social disaster occurs. Family units, priorities and societies' functionality can all shift and change within a matter of minutes. The absence of a husband, or primary earner, immense medical need, trauma, and the desire for safety to meet basic needs is an overwhelmingly terrifying place to be, yet millions of women are sadly in this position.

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This was Behati’s reality. The 38-year-old mother once lived a peaceful, hopeful life, surrounded by the love and support of her family. However, the outbreak of the Sudanese Civil War impacted her deeply. The loss of loved ones, fear and uncertainty impacted her mental health greatly.  

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Behati decided to flee to Ethiopia, her birthplace, in the hope of a fresh start. Yet, when she arrived, it was far from what she expected. Living in a refugee camp and struggling to provide for her family. Behati suffered from overwhelming stress, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.  

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Mental health services at the refugee camp, run by IHP partner Medical Teams International, were able to support Behati. Diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder and depressive symptoms, she was prescribed Amitriptyline 50mg donated by IHP to take routinely. She said: “The introduction of Amitriptyline into my treatment plan has been transformative. It has enhanced my mental and physical health, strengthened my social connections, and inspired me to pursue my aspirations with renewed hope. I am grateful for the positive changes this medication has brought into my life.” 

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The absence of treatment would have deepened Behati’s distress, making it difficult to provide for her family. However, with proper mental health care, she has transformed her life. 

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Behati now looks ahead to her future and dreams of expanding her coffee business into a successful enterprise. She believes that financial independence will provide stability for her children and open doors to new opportunities. Her hope is to create a better future for her family, free from fear and uncertainty. 

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