VNFU Chairman Thao Xuan Sung and UNFPA representative for Vietnam Naomi Kitahara signed to handover dignity kits for female farmers in 03 flood-affected central provinces

This is the continuation of the handover ceremony of dignity kits for female farmers in Da Nang city at risk of gender violence due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic between UNFPA and VNFU in early November 2020.

The ceremony was chaired by Mr. Thao Xuan Sung, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of VNFU Party Committee, Chairman of VNFU and Mrs. Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative for Vietnam. Attending the ceremony were Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dinh, Vice- Chairman of VNFU, leader representatives of some related VNFU Departments and Units and members of UNFPA in Vietnam.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Thao Xuan Sung acknowledged and highly appreciated the companionship, support and close coordination between UNFPA and VNFU in the fields of population, reproductive health care, gender equality and prevention of violence against women and girls in Vietnam from 1993 to present. In addition, he conveyed his sincere thanks to the UNFPA for their understanding, cooperation and effective assistance to female farmers in the central provinces who had been facing many difficulties due to natural disasters and floods in recent times.

Mr. Thao Xuan Sung, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of VNFU Party Committee, Chairman of VNFU is presenting at the handover ceremony

Mr. Thao Xuan Sung emotionally informed that the people in the central provinces of Vietnam often suffer from extremely heavy effects of climate change with continuous storms and floods, which caused many damages to people and property. According to the statistics of the Central Steering Committee for natural disaster prevention, from mid-September 2020 to mid-November 2020, the central provinces suffered the effects of 08 consecutive storms, 02 tropical low pressure storms and 02 long-lasting historic floods. For Vietnamese people in general and members, farmers in particular not only lose food, but also damage in life and property. The damage caused by the recent floods was about VND 30 trillion.

 “The direct support to female farmers is a noble, timely gesture and effective manner for women in the provinces who have suffered from the natural disasters. In the shortest time, VNFU Standing Committee will organize working mission to directly deliver the support to female members, farmers in the central provinces, ensuring the right subjects and the amount of allocation according to the plan agreed between the two sides ”- affirmed Chairman Thao Xuan Sung.

At the reception, Ms. Naomi Kitahara - UNFPA Representative in Vietnam shared that regularly maintaining personal hygiene was essential to help women feel comfortable, confident and secure thier health even in cases of natural disasters or crises. The dignity kits included basic and essential items that women and girls need to use to protect themselves and tmaintain personal hygiene in the difficult times.

Emergency aid kits are part of UNFPA's comprehensive humanitarian aid package to protect sexual and reproductive health and  rights of women and girls, reduce the risk of gender violence; respond and protect the dignity of women and girls who are negatively affected by the crisis. To ensure the unique needs of women and girls even in emergency situations, UNFPA has been providing emergency dignity kits all over the world since the mid 1990s.
 

 

“The UNFPA believes in VNFU’s excellent support to ensure the distribution of the emergency dignity kits to women and girls in the most flood- impacted areas in the central provinces of Vietnam; to make sure no one is left behind "- emphasized Mrs. Naomi Kitahara.

According to the results of a recent rapid assessment with the participation of UNFPA experts in the central provinces of Vietnam, floods and landslides have severely affected care facilities, health care, disrupting public health care programs such as: antenatal care, midwifery, postpartum care and family planning... Moreover, women and girls cannot continue to access to basic health care services including sexual and reproductive health care. The disaster has forced women and girls to move temporarily to evacuation areas without preparing any necessary supplies. As a result, they lack proper hygiene and access to basic and essential items. Besides, they face many difficulties in using clean water for laundry, drying clothes and personal hygiene as well as handling personal hygiene after use... In fact, many poor women have faced unemployment during and after the floods. Women also experience domestic violence and harassment while staying in the community centers, which affects the efforts and capacity of women to mitigate and adapt to disaster or crisis situations.

 Some photos in the handover ceremony:

VNFU Chairman Thao Xuan Sung receives dignity kits for female farmers for female farmer in the flood-effected central provinces of Vietnam