Bangkok, Thailand — Across Asia and the Pacific, from climate disasters to protracted crises, women are often the first to respond, mobilizing resources, coordinating relief efforts and caring for the vulnerable. Despite limited resources, security threats and access constraints, they remain at the heart of community resilience.
This World Humanitarian Day, UN Women highlights the stories of two women leaders from Nepal and Thailand whose work is ensuring that efforts are more inclusive, effective and grounded in the realities of those most often left behind.
In Sindhupalchok District of Napal, Deepika Aryal lived through the devastation of the 2015 earthquake. She lost her home and loved ones in the disaster. Even in those darkest moments, she saw women around her step up to organize, care for others and lead their communities through the crisis.
“Women in my community broke cultural taboos to volunteer. They inspired me to step forward,” she recalls.
Her journey continued during the 2021 floods, when she worked with the Women Humanitarian and Disaster Risk Reduction Platform to coordinate relief efforts, ensuring that the needs of pregnant and lactating women were not overlooked.
Now, as the organization’s Provincial Coordinator in Bagmati Province, she advocates for responses that reflect the realities of all communities, especially those most often excluded, including pregnant and lactating women, persons living with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and other (LGBTQI+) individuals.
Aryal says that while women are often the first to respond in times of crisis, their representation in formal decision-making remains low, and changing this is critical.
She adds that “time poverty” is a major barrier. Many women are engaged in unpaid care work or rely on daily wage labour, limiting their ability to join meetings or participate in planning.
“You cannot expect women to participate meaningfully unless you address what is holding them back,” she says.
Through her organization, Aryal mentors other women and pushes for policy changes that support community-based, inclusive disaster planning. Her message to young women is clear: “Leadership is not about waiting for permission. It is about creating space for ourselves and for others.”
In northern Thailand, Nunnaree Luangmoi founded the Center for Girls Foundation, which supports women and children in vulnerable situations. Growing up in a rural community exposed her to inequality and shaped her commitment to creating spaces where women and girls are protected, heard and empowered.
She says: “I encountered girls who had been abused and lacked support, and I myself have faced violence. These experiences became the driving force behind the foundation.”
The foundation also provides humanitarian support in times of emergencies and disasters, such as providing relief and assisting survivors of human trafficking.
She recalls being attacked by a relative of a perpetrator in 2005, after helping a girl who had been assaulted.
“But I will never forget the moment she smiled again after being safe. That’s what keeps me going,” she says.
“Women see problems differently,” says Nunnaree. “They bring trust, detail and insight that make humanitarian work more sustainable.”
WHDRRP and the Center for Girls Foundation are part of WE Respond. The WE Respond Dashboard maps women- and girl-focused organizations across the Asia-Pacific region, helping coordinate efforts and promote their participation in disaster preparedness, response and recovery.