Tropical Strom Noel affected the Dominican Republic in October 2007, leaving around 79,728 displaced persons, hundreds of communities isolated and almost 20,000 damaged homes. According to estimates from ECLAC, this natural disaster event caused losses of more than US$439 million (1.2% of the country’s GNP), affecting more than 70% of the population in a direct or indirect manner.

This study seeks to analyze the impact of natural disasters on vulnerable populations, such as boys, girls, adolescents, women, persons living with HIV/AIDS, the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as analyze the provision of sexual and reproductive health and the prevention of violence against women in the Dominican Republic.

This study is a product of the emergency funds (CERF) of the United Nations and a joint initiative between the United Nations Populations Fund in the Dominican Republic and UN-INSTRAW. The study aims to indicate and make the most vulnerable with respect to natural disasters and its aftermath in the Dominican Republic visible and stimulate a consistent representative and disaggregated data collection process taking into account the different needs of the affected populations.