As always in the aftermath of a major disaster, the needs of for example pregnant women and mothers with new babies should be attended to. There is also a need to address the added vulnerability to violence that women face when government infrastructures are dysfunctional.

According to the UN-INSTRAW and  United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) “women of reproductive age face limitations in accessing pre-natal and post-natal care, as well as greater risk of vaginal infections, pregnancy complications including spontaneous abortion, unplanned pregnancy, and post-traumatic stress. An increase in violence against women was also recorded.

In natural disaster situations and in post-disaster recuperation, the cases of violence may increase. Given the stress that this situation caused and the life in the refuges, men attacked women more frequently.”

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