In the News
Pakistan Floods: 'Cultural Shock' for Women in Camps
- 18 August 2010
Shmyalla Jawad, who is the gender advisor for the Plan International organisation in Pakistan, visited some of these camps in the Layyah district in Southern Punjab.
Visiting these camps was a heart wrenching experience. I was appalled to see the conditions in which these people are living... But what emerged for me to be the most worrying thing was how women and young girls are being affected by this. They are always the worst hit in these situations.
Whereas the men and young children can take baths outside on the school lawn, women don't have that option.
Many people didn't have a chance to pick up their belongings when the floods hit their village so they have no change of clothes.
Many are wearing what they left home in and without being able to wash and women's hygiene in particular has deteriorated.
The situation is even worse for menstruating and pregnant women.
