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Dignity kits give women, girls wider access to humanitarian support
Dignity kits provided under the Dignity First campaign have allowed women and girls affected by the devastating April 25 earthquake in Nepal to better access disaster relief assistance
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ignity kits provided under the Dignity First campaign have allowed women and girls affected by the devastating April 25 earthquake in Nepal to better access disaster relief assistance.
Following the disaster, many women and girls suffered from limited mobility, as they lacked sanitary pads and other essentials, making it more difficult for them to access supports like food and health services.
Bipana, a 20-year-old woman from Kavre district, shared her experience on the benefits she received from the Dignity First campaign. She said the April 25 earthquake left her and her baby, whom she gave birth to just weeks before the disaster, homeless. Like so many men across Nepal, Bipana's husband left Nepal for better prospects elsewhere for he and his young family.
Bipana, like thousands of other women, received a UNFPA Dignity Kit customized to Nepal's cultural setting.
"I thought that we would be provided only with food aid," said Bipana as she received her dignity kit distributed jointly by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Nepal's Women, Children and Social Welfare Ministry.
"But this package that you've given me is really very valuable!" she said.
Sharmila Thapa, a mother of a six-month-old baby and also based in Kavre, agreed.
"I truly appreciate that you are thinking of our unique needs. Food is important, of course, but proper hygiene and decent clothes make me feel like a normal person again."
The shared experiences highlight a message of the UNFPA's campaign that by ensuring the dignity and safety of affected women and girls, they can be empowered to play a role in rebuilding their lives and communities. (ebf)
