Port-au-Prince, December 23, 2022 --- UNFPA, the United Nations Fund for Reproductive Health, in collaboration with FOSREF, distributed food kits to pregnant women, lactating women and people living with disabilities on December 23, 2022.

These beneficiaries are from the displaced sites in the Port-Au-Prince metropolitan area, from July to today.

Anita welcomes this assistance, believing she is in deep need. She lived in Cité Soleil, the largest slum in the northern part of Port-au-Prince. She had to leave her house burned down during the violence caused by armed gangs on the night of July 6-7.

Anita had taken refuge in the Hugo Chavez site, in Maïs Gâté, not far from the Toussaint Louverture international airport. After being evicted by the Tabarre City Hall, she settled under the footbridge of "Trois Mains", in the same area.

Zia experienced the same situation, as did more than 100 women found in the field. She gave birth to a son in October 2022. She had to flee Cité Soleil to take refuge in a site for displaced people.

This distribution is part of the response to the needs of people displaced by violence in areas with security challenges, explains UNFPA's community officer in Haiti, Geneviève Ingrid Aldanis.

"It is related to the medical follow-up provided to these pregnant, lactating women and people living with disabilities," she says. "These women have benefited from the package of services put in place by UNFPA, through health partners (University Hospital “La Paix” and Maternity of Petite Place Cazeau) to enable them to give birth safely and to encourage exclusive breastfeeding," adds Aldanis.

From July 2022 to the present, some 600 dignity kits and mom kits have been distributed.

The dignity kits include toiletries, soap, toothpaste, sanitary napkins, chlorine and bath towels.

The mom kits contain baby bottles, wipes, diapers, bath towels, and nightgowns.

In addition to the basic needs, the food kits distributed on December 23 help restore the dignity of these people.

"These are vulnerable women who are at risk of being subjected to GBV and getting pregnant," explains the community officer.

UNFPA, together with its partners, is working to relocate 90 of the women and their family members, along with the British organization "Tear Fund" and UN Women through "Rapha House".

Text: Vario Sérant and Jhunie Laura Ganème