UNFPA backs Zambia's efforts to tackle humanitarian crisis

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said it was committed to supporting Zambia build capacity in responding to humanitarian crisis affecting mainly women and girls, it said Friday.

In a statement released to mark this year's World Humanitarian Day, the UNFPA said it was committed to sustaining its partnership with the Zambian government to ensure that rights and needs of women and girls who are at the forefront of likely humanitarian preparedness and response are tackled.

It added that the UNFPA will support programs aimed at providing sexual and reproductive health services to ensure safe births even in the most difficult circumstances and work with partners to build sustainable and resilient health systems.

This year's World Human Day theme is "Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies" and the UNFPA said even if Zambia has experienced relatively low emergency and humanitarian situations in the past few decades, data indicate that a significant number of the population was often affected by floods and drought in particular seasons.

"In such situations, girls and women often face a higher risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, violence, forced marriage, reproductive health-related illnesses, and death due to the lack of protection and an absence of aid delivery to address their needs," the statement added.

According to UNFPA figures, nearly 60 million people are forcibly displaced by conflict, war and persecution, the largest number since the United Nations was created 70 years ago. Endit