ULAN BATOR, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Thursday handed over "dignity kits" -- hygiene supplies for girls and women -- to Mongolia's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for distribution among flood victims in Bayan-Ulgii Province.
Downpours from July 14-16 triggered massive flooding in the western province, affecting more than 2,500 people, including some 1,000 females of reproductive age, according to NEMA.
"Maintaining proper hygiene is a common problem in the aftermath of any disaster, especially for women and girls. Therefore, the UNFPA is distributing the dignity kits," UNFPA representative in Mongolia Naomi Kitahara said.
The kits, worth 24 million Mongolian tugriks (about 9,741 U.S. dollars), contain wet tissues, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, sanitary pads and towel.
"Women and girls are at risk of gender-based violence and sexual harassment after disasters. So, the kits contain protection items including whistles and torches with batteries," she added.
Bayan-Ulgii, the worst affected province, has suffered direct economic losses worth 10 billion tugriks (about 4 million dollars) due to the floods.
