Gendered impacts of climate displacement: voices from resettled communities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

This study investigates the gendered aspects of post-displacement challenges in resettled communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, an area that is becoming more susceptible to climate disasters. Through a qualitative approach guided by vulnerability theory, data from 25 key informant interviews reveal a stark divergence in how men and women experience and prioritise recovery. These results showed that men participants predominantly emphasised economic and housing-related stressors, identifying high rent, unemployment, and unsafe shelter as critical threats to their roles as providers. In contrast, women participants placed a high priority on health, safety, and social welfare, with a near-universal emphasis on the lack of medical care – particularly for maternal and child health – and the gendered risks of insecure shelter. The study concludes that effective humanitarian intervention and long-term resilience planning must be gender responsive. The study recommends targeted policies, such as gender-sensitive shelter programs, mobile health clinics, and livelihood support, designed within a framework that addresses these distinct, gendered architectures of vulnerability.