Over 40,000 pregnant women affected: UN

UNITED NATIONS, Wednesday (The Dawn) - The United Nations Population Fund on Tuesday issued an appeal for $3.2 million to meet the urgent needs of an estimated 40,000 pregnant women impacted by the Saturday's earthquake in Pakistan.

Tens of thousands of women in the affected areas are currently pregnant, and need adequate nutrition, medicines and antenatal care to deliver safely a UNFPA advisory said. Even in the best of circumstances, some 15 per cent of pregnant women also require emergency obstetric care to avoid maternal and infant deaths.

The Fund is concerned that the physical and psychological trauma caused by Saturday's devastating quake could push this figure even higher.

The UNFPA appeal includes $2.2 million for immediate maternal health and emergency obstetric care needs, and $1 million for emergency hygiene supplies. The Fund's operational partners include the ministry of health, the World Health Organization and Unicef.

UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid reminded donors and humanitarian partners on Monday that the unique needs of women must be a part of both initial response and longer-term planning. The UNFPA said many hospitals in Azad Kashmir and Northwest Frontier Province were completely destroyed or made unusable.