UN to assist pregnant women in typhoon-stricken Tacloban

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - The United Populations Fund (UNFPA) said today that it is developing a program to ensure that no pregnant woman dies while giving birth in areas in central Philippines ravaged by typhoon Haiyan, locally named "Yolanda".

UNFPA said the program, which would require a funding of $110 million, is also targeting to prevent women from becoming victims of domestic violence.

The UN agency said it is crafting the program with the Philippine government and that it has already requested $30 million to fulfill its commitments in the next six months.

"In the rush to provide assistance, women and girls were invisible. We must ensure that their needs are met so that every woman and every girl affected by Typhoon Haiyan is protected and lives with dignity," said Ugochi Daniels, chief of UNFPA's Humanitarian Response.

Under the program, life-saving maternal health services through 80 temporary maternity wards, two "hospitainers" or emergency obstetric theaters in containers and 34 ambulances including motorbikes will be provided to typhoon-stricken areas.

Women and girls of child-bearing age will have access to basic hygiene items, such as sanitary pads, underwear and soap, through the distribution of 105,000 "dignity kits" in evacuation centers.

An additional 110,000 kits will also be distributed to pregnant and breastfeeding women. UNFPA said it will ensure that 4,000 women every week have access to reproductive health care services by providing equipment and repairing infrastructures in all eight affected provinces in central Philippines.

UNFPA also said it will support the deployment of female police officer teams in 196 municipalities and the reconstruction of " safe havens" in four regions.

Two weeks after typhoon Haiyan slammed into central Philippines, UNFPA said over 3.2 million women and girls of child-bearing age are still in need of urgent care and protection.

UNFPA also estimated that there are currently 230,000 pregnant women in affected areas while 835 women are giving birth every day with very limited access to emergency obstetric care.