UN Women donated hygiene kits for the most vulnerable women

A period of self-isolation is particularly difficult for economically inactive women or families with low incomes. The crisis leads to an increase in the need for personal hygiene and disinfection products, as well as remedies that are difficult for families with limited incomes.

Hygiene kits include cleansing wipes, sanitary pads, reusable face masks, essential hygiene items, liquid soap, sanitizers, detergent and more. More than 700 women in 27 communities in all 7 regions of Kyrgyzstan received aid.

“Governmental, commercial and other organizations that provide humanitarian aid to most vulnerable families mainly provide assistance with food packages, and the special needs of women very often remain in the background. These kits give women and girls the opportunity to use their limited funds to purchase other vital resources to meet their basic needs.” – said Ulziisuren Jamsran, UN Women Country Office representative in the Kyrgyz Republic.

Also, at the request of women leaders, in April, 16 villages of Osh, Jalal-Abad and Naryn region received humanitarian aid in the form of protective equipment (masks, sanitizers, gloves), cleaning products, children's and adult diapers and thermometers. In total, more than 2,200 families and 366 employees of the FAPs, ayil headquarters, checkpoints and hospitals received aid.

A pandemic is not just a health crisis, it is a humanitarian crisis where women disproportionately bear this burden at home and in the economy as a whole. Women are at the forefront as health and social workers, therefore more vulnerable and at risk. Also, many women are economically inactive and do not have financial security. Nonetheless, women bear the greatest burden of unpaid domestic work and are at risk of gender-based violence.

Media contact:

Nargiz Koshoibekova

UN Women Country Office in Kyrgyzstan

Communications consultant

+996 550 98 12 21

nargiz.koshoibekova@unwomen.org