Pakistan floods: Moonsoons bring misery to estimated 8.2 million women, girls

News Desk

ISLAMABAD: Millions of people have been affected by floods in Pakistan and hundreds have been killed, besides infrastructure damages worth billions of dollars.

According to a press release issued by UNFPA on Tuesday, as many as 6.4 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance following the Monsoon rains, floods, and landslides in Pakistan, including 1.6 million women of childbearing age. The government estimates that around 33 million people across the country are affected, including an estimated 8.2 million women of reproductive age.

An estimated 650,000 pregnant women in the flood-affected areas require maternal health services to ensure a safe pregnancy and childbirth: UNFPA

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that almost 650,000 pregnant women in the flood-affected areas require maternal health services to ensure a safe pregnancy and childbirth.

Up to 73,000 women expected to deliver next month will need skilled birth attendants, newborn care, and support. In addition, many women and girls are at an increased risk of gender-based violence (GBV) as almost 1 million houses have been damaged.

“Pregnancies and childbirth can’t wait for emergencies or natural disasters to be over. This is when a woman and baby are vulnerable and need the most care. UNFPA is on the ground, working with partners, to ensure that pregnant women and new mothers continue receiving life-saving services even under the most challenging conditions,” says UNFPA Pakistan Representative ai Dr. Bakhtior Kadirov.

Around 33 million people across the country are affected, including an estimated 8.2 million women of reproductive age.: Official Statistics

The humanitarian situation is being compounded by severe impacts on infrastructure. More than 1,000 health facilities are either partially or fully damaged in Sindh province, whereas 198 health facilities are damaged in affected districts in Balochistan. The damage to roads and bridges has also compromised girls’ and women’s access to health facilities.

“We will continue supporting health facilities with the equipment and human resources to be fully operational despite the challenging humanitarian conditions,” said Dr. Kadirov.

As many as 73,000 women expected to deliver next month [September] will need skilled birth attendants, newborn care, and support: UNFPA

UNFPA is scaling up its emergency response to provide life-saving reproductive health services and commodities, including dignity kits, for women and girls. UNFPA Pakistan has, so far, procured 8,311 dignity kits, 7,411 new born Baby Kits, and 6,412 Clean Delivery Kits for immediate delivery to Sindh, Balochistan, KP, and Punjab.  Distribution of these kits has already started. UNFPA also provides life-saving reproductive health services across Pakistan, including referral of complicated cases during pregnancy and delivery.

Many women and girls are at an increased risk of gender-based violence (GBV) as almost 1 million houses have been damaged: UNFPA

The UN agency is also prioritizing gender-based violence prevention and response services, including medical and psychosocial support to survivors of GBV.