By Asha-Rose Migiro
Challenged by the most difficult of conditions, women struggle to find shelter, clothing and food for their vulnerable circle of loved ones. This often means they must venture into unknown territory where they are open to new risks, from robbery to sexual abuse.
Perhaps no survivors are more heart-wrenching to see than the mothers who are debilitated by childbirth-related injuries. Try imagining for a second that you are expecting, while fearing not only for your own life but also for the delicate life growing inside you.
The heart-wrenching stories of pregnant women in disaster situations—giving birth in cars and tents, on park benches and bare ground, with no water, much less medical care—are a gripping reminder that the cycle of life does not slow or stop just because a disaster hits. It is unacceptable that the life-giving role of women is suddenly a life-threatening one.
The United Nations Population Fund estimates that 63,000 pregnant Haitian women are expected to deliver in the aftermath of the earthquake. We are racing to protect them—and the generation of children they will bring into the world to inherit the country’s future. The Secretary-General has shown tremendous leadership, moving swiftly soon after the earthquake to mobilize the United Nations family as well as the international community to help the people of Haiti during this difficult time…
Blogger Labels: Women,Haiti,disaster,earthquake,childbirth-related injuries
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