Zamboanga City, December 2, 2014 – More than a year after the Zamboanga siege in 2013, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund continues to support the restoration of health and protection services for women in the most affected communities here.

UNFPA formally signed deeds of donation for the birthing equipment for the barangay health stations of Mampang, Taluksangay and Kansayagan, as well as Women-Friendly Spaces in the Masepla and Buggoc transitory sites and in Arena Blanco, which were also inaugurated today. The WFS serves a venue for awareness-raising sessions on issues of violence against women (VAW) for the crisis survivors made more vulnerable by the conflict situation. The WFS is also envisioned to be a one-stop shop for women to access services related to prevention and management of cases of gender-based violence.

In Barangay Santa Catalina, a community that is still reeling from the effects of the crisis, a Barangay VAW Desk established with the support of UNFPA was also handed over to city and barangay officials.

The September 2013 fighting between a faction of the Moro National Liberation Front and the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Zamboanga City affected around 120,000 people from 14 barangays who were forced to live in 59 evacuation centres and displacement sites.

“Pregnant and lactating women have special needs during emergencies such as the Zamboanga siege. They must continue to have access to prenatal, natal and postnatal services to prevent maternal and neonatal deaths,” said Klaus Beck, UNFPA Country Representative, during the handover ceremony.

In the aftermath of the crisis, the City Health Office said there were around 4,000 pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers with babies six months and under in the various evacuation centers who needed specialized care due to their sensitive condition. It was also reported that there were pregnant women who delivered in evacuation centers assisted by traditional birth attendants or hilots.

In partnership with the CHO and other local organizations, UNFPA organized reproductive health medical missions in evacuation camps and communities to provide prenatal and postnatal care for pregnant and new mothers. The medical missions included health information sessions and family planning services. UNFPA also donated medical equipment and supplies to birthing centers in crisis-affected communities to help them resume operations as soon as the situation stabilized.

For the prevention and management of cases of gender-based violence, UNFPA and partners mobilized social workers and health service providers to support services provided in the WFS, including psychosocial support services. Aside from the WFS to be inaugurated today, similar facilities have been set up in the Tulungatung and Rio Hondo transitory sites, and in Sta. Catalina, Grandstand and Taluksangay evacuation camps.

More than 12,000 women and men were reached in the awareness-raising sessions on gender-based violence, while 4,300 pregnant and breastfeeding women were served in the reproductive health medical missions.

The donations affirm UNFPA’s belief in the capacity of the city government not only to restore what was destroyed but to build back a better Zamboanga. It symbolizes UNFPA’s faith in the resilience of Zamboanga,” Beck said.