Rautahat, July 25

In order to meet hygiene and protection needs of the flood-affected women and girls, a total of 1,696 Dignity Kits and 380 Kishori Kits were distributed in Province 2. The distribution was supported by the Australian government and the United Nations Population Fund. The distribution of the remaining 3,029 kits is under way.

Those kits were distributed in flood-affected districts such as Rautahat, Sarlahi, Siraha and Saptari by local governments in coordination with the District Disaster Management Committees and UNFPA, said Dr Bijaya Jha, senior health administrator at the Provincial Health Directorate of Province 2.

The kits contain items related to protection and hygiene of females tailored to meet  local needs such as torch lights, whistles, saris, maxis, blouses, t-shirts, soap, shampoo, tooth brush, toothpaste, etc.

The remaining 1,702 Dignity Kits and 1,295 Kishori Kits are being distributed and flood-affected women and girls will receive them by the end of this month, said Dr Jha.

According to assessments carried out in some flood-affected areas by the local governments in coordination with development partners, shelter, food, water, sanitation and hygiene are the major priority issues facing flood victims.

Issues related to protection and safety were also found to be matters of concern as some women and girls were found to be at a heightened risk of being exposed to sexual and gender-based violence.

Reproductive health needs, including the hygiene needs of women and girls, are not always prioritised during humanitarian response, said Dr Jha, adding that such Dignity Kits and Kishori Kits help pregnant women, nursing mothers and adolescent girls maintain dignity at the time of hardships.