UNITED NATIONS, New York - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has sent supplies to Venezuela to meet the reproductive health needs of pregnant women and others displaced by last month’s devastating floods and mudslides.

The emergency shipment, which arrived this week, includes most basic supplies needed to perform a clean, safe delivery at home or in a health centre, as well as supplies for HIV testing and blood transfusions. Family planning supplies were also sent, including condoms, hormonal contraceptives and intra-uterine devices.

The supplies, enough to serve an affected population of 150,000 for three months, will go to health centres run by the Venezuelan Ministry of Health in the hardest-hit states of Vargas and Miranda, and in other states where disaster victims have been relocated.

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UNFPA is the largest internationally funded source of population assistance to developing countries. The Fund assists developing countries to improve reproductive health and family planning services on the basis of individual choice, and to formulate population policies in support of efforts towards sustainable development.

Contact Information:

William A. Ryan
Tel.: +66 2 288 2446
Email: ryanw@unfpa.org