Gender Alert #1: Critical Protection Needs of Women and Girls Following the Flores Earthquake Indonesia

The Gender Alert highlights critical protection and gender-specific needs following the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, on 15 August 2026. As of 30 August, the earthquake had caused 111 deaths, injured 1,629 people and displaced 188,161 people across eight districts. Women, pregnant and lactating women, children, adolescents, older people and persons with disabilities account for a significant proportion of those affected.

The alert identifies heightened protection risks for women and girls in displacement settings, including gender-based violence, limited access to maternal and reproductive health services, and gaps in safe and inclusive evacuation facilities. Damage to nine hospitals and 68 community health centres has further disrupted access to essential services.

It calls for gender-responsive humanitarian assistance, improved collection of sex-, age- and disability-disaggregated data, strengthened GBV coordination and survivor-centred services, and gender- and disability-inclusive WASH, shelter and evacuation facilities. The alert also emphasizes the importance of safe spaces, dignity supplies, psychosocial support and meaningful engagement of women’s organizations and persons with disabilities in the response.

This is jointly developed by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Republic of Indonesia; Indonesia Humanitarian Coordination Platform (IHCP); UNFPA; and UN Women.