International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

There could be as many as 37,000 pregnant women among the three million people affected by Haiti's earthquake, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

With this in mind, UNFPA has launched an urgent appeal for funding to help meet emergency maternal health needs.

It is seeking almost £3 million to supplement the supplies already being provided in Haiti and "address the specific needs of women, girls and other vulnerable populations for the next six months".

The organisation explains that Haiti's health system has been "devastated" by the quake, with many of the hospitals and clinics in Port–Au-Prince badly damaged.

UNFPA comments: "The remaining can barely handle the thousands in need of medical care. The current situation is putting the lives of thousands of women and their infants at risk from complications related to pregnancy and child birth."

A response to the earthquake has been sprearheaded by the World Health Organization, which made establishing the provision of clean water and sanitation an immediate priority.

Posted by Alexandra George