*2.3. The Frequency of Climate Change Disasters*

There is an increasing frequency of climate disasters, such as hurricanes and flooding, in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Mycoo et al. (2022) posited that among the 29 Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), at least 22 were affected by at least one Category 4 or 5 tropical cyclone in 2017. These climatic events highlighted these islands' high exposure and vulnerability, which can add to community vulnerability for long periods of time. Added to this, the exposure of the surface of these islands over their entire area, the high concentration of people, infrastructure, utilities, lack of services in flood-prone coastal areas, inadequate housing, limited access to food and transportation, and unpreparedness explains the widespread total devastation. This devastation affects island supply chains which depend on ports, roads, power, and communications and contributes to the complexity of rescue operations and the delay in returning to a sense of normalcy on the affected islands. Fresh water, food supplies, medications, and fuel are in short supply for several weeks or months after the climatic event. The vulnerability of healthcare systems is triggered and can become a burden to many (Shultz et al. 2018). Morbidity and physical injuries escalate. Imagine this scenario for maternal health and children. There are 29 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean.

Women suffer disproportionate mortality during natural disasters. Women that are particularly vulnerable during disasters are mostly homebound, caring for

children and the elderly while waiting for relatives to return from disaster-related evacuation. Underlying inadequate literacy and education can add another layer to vulnerability as women may not have access to information. This inadequacy can affect women's ability to take steps to safeguard their lives (United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women (UNDAW) 2001). Women seem to be more calorie-deficient than men, leading to poor physical health and vulnerability to resource shortages, as suggested by studies from Bangladesh (Rahman 2013; Del Ninno et al. 2001). Pregnant women and those giving birth post-disaster have been found to have increased risks of complications such as preeclampsia, uterine bleeding, and low birth weight (Tong et al. 2011). Notably, women and girls in the aftermath of a disaster, particularly those in lower-economic situations, are at higher risk for physical, sexual, and domestic violence (International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 2007). Women suffer undesirable job loss, stagnant personal economic recovery, and poor access to obstetric care following and during disasters (Sorensen et al. 2018).

UNICEF (2015) states that floods threaten children's survival and development. The direct impact includes injuries and death by drowning. Many children lack the strength to stay on their feet against raging waters with debris. Floods compromise safe water supplies. Contaminated water can lead to diarrhoeal outbreaks. Worldwide, diarrhoea ranks among the top five causes of death for children under 5 years of age. Diarrhoea is a significant cause of death during natural disasters and other complex emergencies (UNICEF and WHO 2009). In these situations, people are further displaced, and they move into temporary, overcrowded shelters where the drinking water may be tainted and space is limited Additionally, damage to housing and lack of sufficient shelters expose children to danger and lack of food availability. Coastal flooding salinates, i.e., the reintroduction of soluble salts into arable land, destroy crops and reducing food availability and income. In such instances, breastfeeding becomes vital as preparing breastmilk alternatives can become nearly impossible.
