Dignity for women and girls: UN Women Iraq distributes necessity kits to newly displaced women and girls from Mosul

UN Women necessity kits are distributed in camps and host communities impacted by Mosul operations. UN Women/Bernice Rumala

UN Women has joined partners in providing emergency assistance in camps and host communities impacted by the Mosul operations. Since the Mosul operations began on 17 October 2016, the humanitarian crisis has deepened, with more than 15,000 individuals displaced and an anticipated 1.2 million expected as the operations continue.

Given that an estimated half of the current and anticipated IDPs from the Mosul operations are women, girls, and female-headed households in need of urgent necessity items, the UN Women team distributed necessity kits on Saturday, 29 October 2016, in the Debaga IDP camp to respond to the dignity needs for women and girls.

UN Women Iraq visit an IDP camp to distribute kits to women and girls who have been displaced from Mosul. UN Women/Bernice Rumala

Dr. Paulina Chiwangu, UN Women Iraq Deputy Country Representative, states “Women and girls fleeing from conflict often face many obstacles as they leave their ancestral homes, strive to keep their families together, survive human rights abuses, and serve as pillars of unity within their communities. However, the necessity needs of women and girls to maintain dignity are often forgotten. Through this aid and ongoing services, we are reminding them that they are valued”.

Read the full press release on the UN Iraq website.