Women�s health needs neglected in disaster aid, says UNFPA report

The health needs of women and adolescents are too often neglected in humanitarian response to natural disasters and conflicts around the world, says a report released by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) yesterday.
The State of World Population 2015, “Shelter from the Storm,” shows that of the 100 million people in need of humanitarian assistance around the world today, about 26 million are women and adolescent girls in their childbearing years.
Three fifths of the maternal deaths today occur in the countries that are considered fragile because of conflict or disaster.  Pregnancy and childbirth kill 507 women every day in these settings. “The health and rights of women and adolescents should not be treated like an afterthought in humanitarian response,” says UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin. “For the pregnant woman who is about to deliver, or the adolescent girl who survived sexual violence, life-saving services are as vital as water, food and shelter.”
“Having the means to prevent a pregnancy and being safe from sexual violence—these are basic human rights,” Dr. Osotimehin says. “Rights don’t just go away, and women don’t stop giving birth when a conflict breaks out or disaster strikes.”
Because there are so many conflicts and disasters in the world today, UNFPA is delivering an increasing share of its services in crises, the report shows. UNFPA has responded to crises in 38 countries in 2015.  The UNFPA report shows a better, stronger and more resilient shelter is needed to help the women weather the storms that endanger their health, rights and futures. The current shelter, according to the report, is unable to protect all those who need it. Dr Osotimehin says. “We need to do a much better job of helping the most vulnerable, especially adolescent girls. But we must also do a much better job of investing in a more stable world, capable of withstanding the storms ahead.”

Women�s health needs neglected in disaster aid, says UNFPA report

The health needs of women and adolescents are too often neglected in humanitarian response to natural disasters and conflicts around the world, says a report released by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) yesterday. The State of World Population 2015, Shelter from the Storm, shows that of the 100 million people in need of humanitarian assistance around the world today, about 26 million are women and adolescent girls in their childbearing years. Three fifths of the maternal deaths today occur in the countries that are considered fragile because of conflict or disaster. Pregnancy and childbirth kill 507 women every day in these settings. The health and rights of women and adolescents should not be treated like an afterthought in humanitarian response, says UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin. For the pregnant woman who is about to deliver, or the adolescent girl who survived sexual violence, life-saving services are as vital as water, food and shelter. Having the means to prevent a pregnancy and being safe from sexual violencethese are basic human rights, Dr. Osotimehin says. Rights dont just go away, and women dont stop giving birth when a conflict breaks out or disaster strikes. Because there are so many conflicts and disasters in the world today, UNFPA is delivering an increasing share of its services in crises, the report shows. UNFPA has responded to crises in 38 countries in 2015. The UNFPA report shows a better, stronger and more resilient shelter is needed to help the women weather the storms that endanger their health, rights and futures. The current shelter, according to the report, is unable to protect all those who need it. Dr Osotimehin says. We need to do a much better job of helping the most vulnerable, especially adolescent girls. But we must also do a much better job of investing in a more stable world, capable of withstanding the storms ahead.