UNFPA demands help for women displaced by conflict

Women and girls account for 52% of an estimated 1.38 million Nigerians displaced by conflict in the region, according to data from National Emergency Management Agency and the International Organisation for Migration.“Most women and adolescent girls face particular threats as a result of the absence of health and other essential services,” said UNFPA’s country representative, […]

Women and girls account for 52% of an estimated 1.38 million Nigerians displaced by conflict in the region, according to data from National Emergency Management Agency and the International Organisation for Migration.
“Most women and adolescent girls face particular threats as a result of the absence of health and other essential services,” said UNFPA’s country representative, Ratidza Ndhlovu, in comments to mark World Population Day in Abuja.
“In humanitarian situations, an estimated one in five women and adolescent girls are likely to be pregnant.”
Up to 13,000 pregnancies are expected in six months, according to a need assessment for six northeastern states conducted by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs, which estimates more than 160,000 women are of reproductive age among internally displaced people.
“We want to ensure that women of reproductive age get the sexual reproductive health services they need,” Ndhlovu told Daily Trust.
“If they are pregnant, they should get antenatal care to take care of their pregnancies so that they will be able to soldier through their nine-month journey successfully until they deliver. We also want to ensure they have safe and clean delivery,” she said. But funding has restricted its ability to reach a target 4.5m people in need of assistance on its $10.4m budget, forcing a shortage of $7.1m, and limiting their numbers to 3.35m beneficiaries.