• More than 73,000 women expected to deliver in next month
• These pregnant women needs skilled birth attendants , newborn care and support
• More than 1,000 health facilities of Sindh and 198 of Balochistan are damaged due to the flood

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

More than 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.

Of the 6.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance following the Monsoon rains, floods, and landslides in Pakistan, more than 1.6 million are women of childbearing age, newborn care, and support.

The Government of Pakistan estimates that around 33 million people across the country are affected, including an estimated 8.2 million women of reproductive age.

“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, Dr. Bakhtior Kadirov.

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.

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 Newborn Baby Kits, and 6,412 Clean Delivery Kits for immediate delivery to Sindh, Balochistan, KP, and Punjab.  Distribution of these kits has already started.

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