SUVA, Fiji - The United Nations Population Fund Pacific Sub-Regional Office (PSRO) has committed up to $35 million VATU and will provide essential emergency reproductive health supplies towards the United Nations Cyclone Pam recovery efforts, together with the Government of Vanuatu.

UNFPA Pacific also informed the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in a meeting of all agencies today that UNFPA staff will be available for deployment if the need for their field expertise is identified.

UNFPA Pacific Programme Analyst Gideon Mael and Family Planning & Youth Sexual Reproductive Health Specialist Claire Davies are undertaking assessments on the ground, participating in discussions on inter-agency responses and working with the Ministry of Health.

"The Vila Central Hospital requires urgent repairs and may require longer-term reconstruction," Mr Mael said from Port Vila.

"Monday [March 16] has been a day of preparations of our support to a Government-led response and today has been more about action in ascertaining information with no power in most parts and serious damage to communication infrastructure."

The Vanuatu Humanitarian Team has confirmed 3,300 evacuees to date, 37 evacuation centres have been opened in Efate, the island on which the capital Port Vila is located. UNFPA Pacific has pre-positioned dignity kits, radios and flashlights.

UNFPA reproductive health in emergencies kits include kits for medical response to sexual violence, clinical delivery assistance, management of miscarriage and suture of tears (cervical and vaginal) and vaginal examination.

"Our response is based on analysis and information to ensure our contribution is targeted and therefore will benefit ni-Vanuatu women and families," said UNFPA Pacific Sub-Regional Office Representative and Director Dr Laurent Zessler.

Based on findings of the 2013 Demographic Health Survey, UNFPA Pacific estaimtes that there are about 56,000 women of reproductive age of which 6,700 are pregnant. It is estimated that 100 women may experience pregnancy related complications in the next month or 900 women in the next nine months.

Findings from a violence against women prevalence study in 2012 conducted in Vanuatu reported 60 per cent intimate partner violence and 48 per cent non-partner violence. Gender-based violence can be exacerbated in evacuation centres and in host-family accommodation.

UNFPA Pacific is working in coordination with UNOCHA to ensure a complementary and informed approach at all times.

For more information, please contact:

In Port Vila, Vanuatu:
Gideon Mael, Programme Analyst: +678 7774412
Claire Davies, Family Planning & Youth Sexual Reproductive Health Specialist: + 678 5433557

In Suva, Fiji: 
Ariela Zibiah, Communication Analyst:  +679 8682097

In Bangkok, Thailand: 
Roy Wadia, Regional Communication Advisor: +66 84 875 2634; wadia@unfpa.org