Press Release: UN Women donated hygiene kits for the most vulnerable women
Date:
20 May 2020 – UN Women in Kyrgyzstan provided humanitarian aid in the form of hygiene kits for the most vulnerable women and girls in 7 regions of Kyrgyzstan.
A period of self-isolation is particularly difficult for women who are not currently in the workforce or families with low income. The crisis leads to an increase in the need for personal hygiene and disinfection products, that are difficult to afford for families with limited income.
Hygiene kits provided by UN Women include cleansing wipes, sanitary pads, reusable face masks, essential hygiene items, liquid soap, sanitizers, detergent among others. More than 700 women in 27 communities in all 7 regions of Kyrgyzstan received aid.
“Governmental, commercial and other organizations that provide humanitarian aid to most vulnerable families mainly provide assistance with food packages, and the special needs of women very often remain in the background. These kits give women and girls the opportunity to use their limited funds to purchase other vital resources to meet their basic needs,” said Ulziisuren Jamsran, UN Women Country Office representative in the Kyrgyz Republic.
In April, at the request of women leaders, 16 villages of Osh, Jalal-Abad and Naryn regions received humanitarian aid in the form of protective equipment (masks, sanitizers, gloves), cleaning products, children's and adult diapers and thermometers. In total, more than 2,200 families and 366 employees of the primary medical care facilities in rural areas (feldsher-midwife stations), local government offices, checkpoints and hospitals received aid.
A pandemic is not just a health crisis, it is a humanitarian crisis where women disproportionately bear a burden at home and in the economy as a whole. Women are more vulnerable and at higher risk, as they are at the forefront of the response as health and social workers. Many women do not participate in the economy equally, work in low paid, informal jobs, shoulder more unpaid care and domestic work and hence do not have financial security. They are also at increased risk of gender-based violence during this pandemic.
Media contact:
Nargiz Koshoibekova
UN Women in Kyrgyzstan
Communications Consultant
+996 550 98 12 21