Dignity kits distributed to women and girls
In January and February, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Namibia distributed dignity kits to 4 305 vulnerable people, including people with disabilities, in the drought-affected regions of Kavango East, Kavango West and Omaheke.Each kit contained essential hygiene items and a Youth Learning Passport - a booklet with important information on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV).
"Namibia is currently experiencing a severe drought crisis, exacerbated by the effects of El Niño, which has a devastating impact on women and girls. The crisis is exacerbated by economic challenges and rising unemployment, leading to widespread food insecurity. Vulnerable communities are at increased risk of malnutrition, disease and violence against women, so urgent support is needed," the UNFPA said.
To address these challenges, UNFPA, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is working with funding from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (UNCERF) to prevent GBV and to support those affected. Key interventions include, among others, providing hygiene kits and food parcels to women and girls at risk; teaching life skills to empower communities; strengthening GBV referral pathways to improve access to services; supporting GBV protection units to ensure survivors receive psychosocial support; and scaling up mobile services to bring care closer to those in need, particularly survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).