20 October 2015 -- UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, stands ready to provide targeted assistance to vulnerable women and girls affected by Typhoon Koppu (locally named Lando), which hit northern Luzon in the Philippines and caused floods and landslides over the weekend.

Typhoon Koppu has weakened into a tropical storm but several provinces are still inundated in flood waters. In areas severely affected by the floods, there have been reports of women giving birth in evacuation centers.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that population affected by the typhoon has reached 290,000 with more than 200,000 people displaced. There are currently 376 evacuation centers housing 70,000 people.

Of the affected population, more than 70,000 are women and girls of child-bearing age (15-49 years old) and an estimated 6,500 are pregnant women who require special care.

“Pregnant women deliver even in emergencies. We must ensure that they continue to have access to safe and clean delivery despite the situation. It is a matter of life and death for the woman and the baby.” said Klaus Beck, UNFPA Country Representative.

As part of its disaster preparedness plan, UNFPA has prepositioned emergency reproductive health kits and supplies that can be quickly deployed to the typhoon-hit areas upon government request. The kits are intended to respond to the reproductive health and protection needs of vulnerable populations, specifically pregnant and lactating women and women and girls at risk of gender-based violence.

The kits include clean delivery kits for pregnant women in their last stages of pregnancy, maternity tents, equipment and supplies for normal deliveries, family planning supplies, and medicines and supplies for management of sexually transmitted infections. There are also provisions for setting up Women-Friendly Spaces to provide information and protection services for cases of gender-based violence.

UNFPA has likewise prepositioned 18,000 dignity kits, which contain hygiene supplies such as sanitary napkins, bath soap, toothbrush, toothpaste and underwear, among others, as well as protection items such as a whistle and flashlight. More than 10,000 solar-powered radios with LED lights are also available for women living in evacuation camps experiencing extended power outages.

Most of the prepositioning of supplies have been made possible through the generous support of the Government of Australia.

It is encouraging to witness the level of Government preparedness and its response so far. However, with several areas not yet reachable and continued flooding in many areas, the full consequences of typhoon Koppu is not yet known. “We cannot let down our guards yet knowing that more than 6,500 pregnant women have been displaced and have not yet been able to return home.” says Beck.

For more information, contact:
Arlene Calaguian Alano
Communications Officer, UNFPA Philippines
E-mail: alano@unfpa.org
Telephone: +63 2 901 0306