Reproductive Health Needed in Cyclone Relief

Cross-Party Parliamentarians’ Group Congratulates New Zealand’s Quick Response to the Fiji Cyclone and Calls for Reproductive Health Needs to be Considered in Relief Efforts

Wellington, 17th March 2010: Dr Jackie Blue, MP and Chair of the cross-party New Zealand Parliamentarians' Group on Population and Development (NZPPD) congratulates New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs for getting relief supplies into Fiji quickly following the devastating cyclone that hit the country this week. The NZPPD Chair also calls on relief efforts to ensure that the sexual and reproductive health needs of the affected population are considered when responding to this natural disaster.

Evidence from past humanitarian responses around the world shows that sexual and reproductive health is often neglected in the immediate response and relief stages of humanitarian emergencies, yet is central to ensuring the well-being of people whose lives are in chaos. For example, providing security in camps to prevent sexual violence and ensuring pregnant women who go into childbirth have access to birthing kits, can reduce the suffering of those who have already experienced the loss of homes, loved ones and livelihoods due to the emergency.

Women and girls tend to be disproportionately affected in emergency settings and tend to experience increased violence against them, particularly sexual violence.

“In times of emergency, people – especially women and girls – are much more at risk of sexual violence. Also, women don’t stop having babies just because there is a cyclone. It is imperative that these issues are central in the immediate response and relief phases of the cyclone as well as in the future, as Fiji rehabilitates, reconstructs and prepares for any other emergencies”, says Dr. Jackie Blue.

Background
The NZPPD is a cross–party group with currently 44 members representing almost 40 percent of all New Zealand MPs. The group has provided a forum for New Zealand parliamentarians to engage and act on international population and development issues for eleven years. The NZPPD has a particular focus on the Pacific region, where the population and development challenges remain great. Family Planning International houses the NZPPD Secretariat.

ENDS

© Scoop Media