ISLAMABAD – In response to the Government’s call for assistance, UNFPA has activated lifesaving humanitarian activities for the flood victims in Pakistan. UNFPA estimates 1.4 million women and girls of childbearing age in the 8 most severely affected districts in Sindh require immediate access to reproductive health services. Of them, over 160,000 pregnant women require lifesaving services in the next 6 months.

As part of the consolidated appeal, UNFPA requested for US$3.8 million to address the most urgent reproductive health needs, including emergency obstetric services. Estimates show that 440 women go into labour every day, 60 of whom may have potentially life threatening pregnancy-related complications. According to Mr. Rabbi Royan, the funding gap will have to be filled in order to ensure the safe delivery of thousands of these pregnant women and girls in the next six months.

Access to the mobile health facilities has been one of the major challenges. UNFPA, in its initial phase, has mobilized 50 mobile service units (MSUs) in the 8 worst flood affected districts while working with Government and NGO partners. These districts are Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas, Khairpur, Sanghar and Omar Kot. "These fully equipped mobile vehicles are offering basic emergency obstetric care services including basic primary health care to women and adolescent girls. UNFPA is also providing psycho-social and protection services to gender based violence survivors. However, we anticipate as conditions change, these services will be delivered through static or fixed health facilities", said Dr. Shahnaz Shallwani, UNFPA Provincial Coordinator in Karachi.

After the onset of floods, UNFPA distributed hygiene kits, newborn and safe delivery kits for an estimated 0.6 million population in the floods affected districts. Additional supplies of hygiene and reproductive health kits are being procured to cater to the needs of a population of one million for the next one month.

UNFPA, on government’s request, has initiated a comprehensive reproductive health and gender based violence assessment in the above affected districts in Sindh. The assessment, when completed, will help address all aspects of reproductive health, protection needs and ensure sustainable comprehensive emergency obstetric services for the women in the flood affected areas for the coming months.

For more information, please contact: 

In Islamabad, Sara Raza Khan, tel. +92 (0) 51 835 5766, mobile +92 (0) 345 522 2707, skhan@unfpa.org
In Bangkok, William A. Ryan, mobile +66 89 897 6984, ryanw@unfpa.org