Naomi Kitahara, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative in Vietnam, on November 24 handed over the kits to Thao Xuan Sung, Chairman of the VFU Central Committee. The union will deliver the dignity kits to the women in need.

UNFPA Representative in Vietnam Naomi Kitahara (L) hands over the kits to Thao Xuan Sung, Chairman of the Central Committee of Vietnam Farmers’ Union.

The country’s central coastal region has suffered unprecedented flooding from prolonged downpours and successive typhoons since early October, resulting in more than 200 deaths so far, and displacing thousands of people. At least 5.5 million people in the region have been affected, including an estimated 1.3 million women of reproductive age with more than 92,000 of them pregnant.

Pregnancy and menstruation do not stop in emergencies, and as such uninterrupted services for sexual and reproductive health must be provided for women and girls. And risks of violence against women and girls increase in a crisis, for which effective prevention and response must be immediately put in place.

According to the joint rapid assessment carried out last month, in which UNFPA experts played a lead role in the most affected areas of central Vietnam, the disaster had forced women and girls to move into evacuation centres without having the time to pack essential supplies. 

As a result, they were unable to manage their hygiene properly and lacked access to basic needs such as sanitary pads, clothes and underwear. In addition, access to water and places to wash and dry reusable pads and clothes, or to dispose used materials, was a problem.

Dignity kits are a signature product of the UNFPA's comprehensive package of humanitarian assistance to safeguard sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls, mitigate the risk of gender-based violence, and respond and protect the dignity of women and girls adversely affected by a crisis.

“Preserving dignity is essential to maintaining self-esteem and confidence, which is important to cope in stressful and potentially overwhelming humanitarian situations. A dignity kit comprises the basic items that women and girls need to protect themselves and maintain their basic hygiene, respect and dignity in the face of crisis,” said Kitahara at the handover ceremony.

More aid coming to flood-hit residents

Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Tran Thanh Man paid a working visit to Binh Nam Commune, Thang Binh District, in the central province of Quang Nam, on November 21.

Central Vietnam floods cause bacterial infection outbreak

The number of patients with melioidosis, also called Whitmore's disease, has increased sharply at a major hospital in the central region following the prolonged flooding.

Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee receives more aid for flood victims

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, Hanoi chapter received the fourth tranche of donations worth over VND27.8 billion (US$1.2 million) on November 16 to support people affected by recent flooding in the central region.

Source: NDO/VNA