03/04/2025
CALL TO ACTION: ADDRESSING SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE LAINSABA FIRE
The devastating fire in Lainsaba Ward and the informal settlement last night has left families displaced, livelihoods destroyed, and children out of school. While emergency response efforts focus on immediate shelter, food, and medical aid, we must urgently address the heightened risk of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in this crisis.
Immediate Priorities:
1. Protection of Women and Girls: Displacement and overcrowding in temporary shelters create dangerous conditions for women and girls, increasing their vulnerability to harassment, assault, and exploitation.
2. Safe Spaces and Emergency Response Services: We call for the urgent establishment of safe spaces for survivors and at-risk individuals, with access to trained counselors, medical support, and law enforcement protection.
3. Reporting Mechanisms: Strengthen and publicize confidential reporting systems for SGBV cases, ensuring survivors can seek justice without fear of retaliation.
4. Essential Supplies: Provision of dignity kits, including sanitary products, clothing, and personal hygiene items, to uphold the dignity of women and girls during displacement.
5. Community-Led Protection Measures: Engage local leaders, including women’s groups and youth organizations, to create community-led watch groups to enhance safety and accountability.
Holding the Government Accountable:
Beyond this immediate crisis, this tragedy exposes deep-seated failures in urban planning, infrastructure, and governance:
Lack of proper urban planning has led to unregulated settlements prone to disasters, where thousands live in unsafe conditions.
Inaccessible roads and inadequate emergency response resulted in delayed rescue efforts, worsening the impact of the fire.
Poor electricity connection and illegal wiring continue to endanger lives, yet authorities have failed to implement long-term solutions.
We demand immediate government intervention to prevent future tragedies by:
Regularizing informal settlements with proper infrastructure, accessible roads, and adequate safety measures.
Strengthening SGBV prevention mechanisms in all emergency response strategies.
Ensuring swift action against perpetrators of SGBV in crisis situations.
This is a call to government agencies, humanitarian organizations, and civil society to act swiftly in protecting the most vulnerable and ensuring that tragedies like this do not continue to expose women and children to harm.
Act Now. Protect Lives. Demand Change.
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