KATHMANDU, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Women and girls uprooted by war or disaster are at heightened risk of rape, exploitation and abuse, according to a statement issued by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Nepal on Sunday.
According to a statement issued on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, UNFPA called on all humanitarian actors to meet the shared obligation to protect the vulnerable from harm, and especially to protect the rights, safety, health and lives of women and girls.
"UNFPA is doing its part by providing life-saving reproductive health care to women in crisis-affected countries, safe spaces for women and girls, and services for survivors of sexual violence," Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director, was quoted as saying in the statement.
According to the UN agency, a poorly lit lavatory or a water pump that is out of view of security officers can be dangerous places where women and girls can become targets for sexual violence.
"A pregnant woman who is about to give birth may face an impossible choice: deliver on her own or risk being attacked as she seeks the help of a nearby midwife or clinic. No woman should have to make such a decision," read the statement.
UNFPA said that with the support of the entire humanitarian community, the risks faced every day by millions of women and girls can be reduced dramatically.
