Humanitarian Assistance
UNFPA's Humanitarian Response to People in Crisis Situations
Nepal is vulnerable to environmental hazards and has experienced both floods and droughts in recent years. Located in a seismically active zone, Nepal also has frequent earthquakes. But the difficulties of travel and transport in Nepal's hilly terrain undermines disaster response. Furthermore, natural disasters increase the existing challenges of responding to issues of reproductive health and sexual and gender-based violence.
When emergencies strike, the first concern is survival but other essential needs do not disappear. Working in coordination with other United Nations agencies and the Government of Nepal, UNFPA takes the lead in providing supplies and services to protect the reproductive health of people in crises. Priorities in such situations include promoting safe motherhood and adolescent health, and preventing both sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and sexual and gender based violence.
Women have unique health concerns, from hygiene needs to life-threatening complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. The stress and disruption of disasters often lead to a rise in sexual violence and domestic abuse. In addition to its psychological effects, sexual and domestic violence can have severe consequences for a woman's health. The breakdown of community norms and protection may lead to a rise in sexual exploitation.
The lack of sanitary supplies for menstruation can limit the mobility of women and girls and may cause them to experience discomfort, shame and isolation for several days each month. In many cases, women become the sole providers and caretakers for their own households, and sometimes for the families of others - especially when men have been killed, injured or must leave their communities to fight or look for income. The burden of care they assume for children and others can make it difficult for women to take proper care of themselves. They may neglect their own needs as they devote themselves to caring for their families and others who need their help.
UNFPA addresses reproductive health needs, gender based violence and HIV/AIDS, according to a globally defined Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP), which if left unaddressed endangers many lives. (MISP;
http://www.unfpa.org/emergencies/manual/2.htm)
Humanitarian assistance by UNFPA in Nepal supported by international partners
Since 2006 UNFPA has implemented humanitarian assistance projects in more than 21 districts and has improved the lives of close to 100,000 women, men and adolescents. Its reproductive health camps are a humanitarian response, delivering immediate services to populations in areas where access remains weak, particularly after the disruption caused by Nepal's civil conflict. As sustainable comprehensive health care services are developed nationally, immediate needs cannot be neglected.
The mobile health camps contribute to long-term goals to improve the reproductive health status of women and to advance women's empowerment. These activities are in line with the Government of Nepal's ongoing efforts to deliver free health services up to the level of Primary Health Care Centres.
Some examples of this humanitarian assistance are described below, listed by the agencies and donors that funded the projects.
European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO)
In 2006 the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) began supporting UNFPA's work in the area of humanitarian assistance. With funding from ECHO's local partner NGO, UNFPA conducted mobile reproductive health camps in the six districts of Dang, Rolpa and Banke, Dadeldhura, Doti and Accham (2006-2007). In 2008 UNFPA, with financial support from ECHO, managed the project Delivering Emergency Reproductive Health Services to Conflict Affected Populations of Nepal in three districts - Jumla, Bajura and Bajhang. The humanitarian assistance funded by ECHO was not limited to providing reproductive health services through mobile camps but included activities aimed at capacity strengthening of local health care providers in issues related to delivery of reproductive health services, advocacy and counseling.
ECHO continues to support UNFPA's humanitarian work with a new 12-month project. Since November 2008, the most vulnerable populations in Dailekh, Rukum, and Jajarkot districts have been receiving health services. The mobile reproductive health outreach camps that have been conducted in these districts have facilities for screening, counseling and treatment of various health problems. They also provide information on family planning and prevention of sexually transmitted infections. The staff is trained to identify cases of gender based violence as well as to provide hands-on training for local health service providers in how to handle victims of domestic violence.
The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department has funded relief to millions of victims of natural and man-made disasters outside the EU. Aid is channeled impartially to the affected populations, regardless of their race, ethnic group, religion, gender, age, nationality or political affiliation. The funds are spent on goods and services such as food, clothing, shelter, medical provisions, water supplies, sanitation, emergency repairs and mine-clearing. The Commission also funds disaster preparedness and mitigation projects in regions prone to natural catastrophes.
http://europa.eu.int/comm/echo/
UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF)
Along with the World Food Program (WFP), UNFPA jointly delivered food aid and reproductive health camps to the severely drought-affected communities of Humla and Mugu districts in October and November, 2006. About 12,000 women of reproductive age, along with men and adolescents participated in the health camps, which provided reproductive health check-ups and treatment. The camps also provided first aid, family planning, screening, counseling and referrals for GBV, and voluntary testing and counseling for HIV/AIDS and STIs.
At the end of 2008, UNFPA and WFP managed another project funded by the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) which provided food and essential reproductive health care services through reproductive health camps for 10,000 women, men, and adolescents in conflict-affected districts in mid- and far-western Nepal (Mugu, Jumla, Dailekh, Humla, Dolpa).
In the East of Nepal, thanks to support from UN CERF, UNFPA and its local implementing partners delivered essential reproductive health services for flood-affected women, men and adolescents in Sunsari and Saptari in the second half of 2008.
The Government of Japan
In 2007 and 2008 UNFPA oversaw humanitarian activities delivering essential reproductive health services for women, men, and adolescents through mobile reproductive health camps. The project was funded by the Emergency Fund of the Government of Japan and was implemented by local partners in six districts of the Mid- and Far Western Development Regions (Banke, Bardiya, Kanchanpur, Kailali, Achham and Doti). During the 12 months of the project, 64 mobile reproductive health camps provided reproductive health services to 46,000 people. Additionally, two hundred women diagnosed with severe uterine prolapse received surgical correction. The UNFPA implementing partners distributed 60 reproductive health kits, 9,000 clean delivery kits, and 84 sets of medical supplies to the local health service providers.
The Government of Norway
When the floods occurred in several Terai districts in Nepal in July 2007, UNFPA was ready to organize emergency health services and to support the flood-affected population. The assistance was possible thanks to funds from the Norwegian government. In the second half of 2007 and first half of 2008, 15 mobile reproductive health camps were conducted in Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, and Rautahat. Basic commodities such as clean delivery kits (1,500), sanitary towels/pads (1,250), nutritious packages, kitchen and cooking utensils, clothing and blankets were distributed. Ten local agencies received funds for emergency obstetric care; 84 local health care providers were trained on gender based violence. In addition, 75 women got skills development training, and scholarships were distributed among 50 needy girls in primary and secondary schools.
The Government of Denmark
The most recent project (2008-2010) has been launched with funding from the Embassy of Denmark. Its goal, delivering essential reproductive health care for women, men, and adolescents of Mid- and Far Western districts of Nepal, will be achieved through mobile reproductive health camps that aim to reach 24,425 people in five districts, including women of reproductive age, men, and adolescents. The five districts are Salyan, Jajarkot, Kailali, Dadeldhura and Bajhang. The objective of this project is to deliver and increase access to life-saving reproductive health (RH) services; to improve the RH status of conflict-affected populations; and to train health service providers to deliver RH services. The project also aims to improve maternal health and family planning, including the use of condoms; to help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS; to help understand and address GBV; and to provide voluntary counseling and testing.
In addition to the projects outlined above, UNFPA supported the Ministry of Health and Population in peace building by providing two medical doctors to cantonments in Surkhet and Kailali for twelve months in 2007 and 2008. These doctors provided valuable medical services to People's Liberation Army combatants as well as to the host communities.
Floods in 2008
In 2008, the floods in both western and eastern Nepal, affected more than 240,000 people. Reproductive health (RH) needs, gender based violence (GBV), and HIV/AIDS were largely left unaddressed in the first phases of the response, endangering many lives. UNFPA responded to the floods by providing life-saving services through local government and NGO partners in Sunsari, Saptari, Kanchanpur and Kailali. These services included emergency obstetric care and prevention of gender based violence as well as HIV transmission.
UNFPA's first response was to provide basic necessities in coordination with local government agencies, health institutions, NGOs and other international partners. These included clean delivery kits, post rape kits, medical tents, ambulance service, sarees, shawls, sanitary cloths, flashlights, soap and bed mattresses. UNFPA contracted with local partners to establish mobile clinics and protection centers for women. UNFPA gave money to support local hospitals, District Health Offices, and Women's Development Offices to ensure continuity of services.
UNFPA lobbied to deploy female police personnel in internally displaced persons camps and supported local partners so they could provide training to 150 police in Sunsari and Saptari.
In the winter of 2008-2009, UNFPA helped provide basic goods like clothing, hygiene items, nutritious food for pregnant and lactating mothers, and medicines along with temporary clinics. Services related to gender based violence, including counseling, advocacy and protection, continued in Sunsari and Saptari, along with work on HIV/AIDS and other reproductive health issues with a focus on women and youth.
What are the mobile health camps?
The mobile reproductive health camps are organized by UNFPA's local partners, these are organizations specialized in the delivery of health services. The camps take place in communal settings like schools or in tents, if necessary. The medical team includes doctors and nurses. Technical and support staff arrange spaces for: general check-ups, gynecological check-ups, laboratory work, distribution of medicines, information and education, and counseling. |
 Registration
 Waiting for one's turn
 Medical interview
 Examination
 Health education
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For more information on UNFPA work in emergencies, see the following websites:
