The UN agency extended the support in response to a request made by Nepal government following the floods and landslides in August 2014 that, among 23 districts, affected Dang, Banke, Bardiya and Surkhet the most, said a press statement issued by the UNFPA.

"The process to distribute the kits that started four months ago ended on Monday (Jan 12, 2015) with the last remaining set of dignity kits’ handover," the  statement informed.

"The reproductive health kits comprise medicines, instruments and other commodities meant to support clean delivery, rape treatment, contraceptive use, STI treatment, and management of miscarriage, suture of tears (vaginal and cervical) and vaginal examination."

Commenting on the handover, Bijaya Kumari Prasain, Focal Person for National Protection Cluster at Department of Women and Children (DWC), said that flood affected women in the four districts were in need of humanitarian assistance and their various needs including hygiene were not being addressed. “Thus those dignity kits were useful for the affected women, including pregnant and lactating women,” said Ms. Prasai, who is  also Director at DWC.

Likewise, UNFPA Representative to Nepal Ms. Giulia Vallese said the dignity kits will support women in their basic necessities after being displaced by floods in those four districts. “This support is in accordance with UNFPA Nepal’s commitment to providing reproductive health services, prevent and respond to gender based violence, prevent transmission of HIV and provide much-needed hygiene supplies,” she added.

In Nepal, UNFPA has been working with the government, other UN agencies, development partners and humanitarian organisations like NRCS to ensure that the needs of women of reproductive age are not forgotten during disaster preparedness and response. This includes ensuring the protection from different forms of violence and ensuring provision of reproductive health services and access and utilization of the same.