“I miss my house. My home. The life that I am used to.” 

These were the words of 17 year old Jessica Bai, who has been living at CareCenter at Sovulu Primary school since November last year with her family following the eruption of Mt. Ulawun in West New Britain Province.

“Most displaced families have created a home here at the carecenter and have accepted this new reality but sometimes, I find myself missing my home village of Ulamona,” Jessica shared with tears in her eyes.

Ulamona is where Mt. Ulawin is situated and when it erupted, spewing volcanic ashes as high as 15, 000 meters, the people from Ulamona Village were the first to be relocated to Sovulu Primary School.  Initially there were 8 Care Centers to cater for the 16,0000 displaced people, however 6 months later, 7 of the care centers have closed and repatriation stages have begun already by the Provincial Government to move the people back into their native homes.

“The care center here at Sovulu is the only one that is running because the families here are not yet ready to move back into their village of Ulamona. They are still traumatized because they were the ones that were affected most by the volcanic eruption, ” Blaise Luveni, the local councilor and care center leader shared. 

“379 Households still remain here in Sovulo right now.”

As part of its humanitarian emergency response, UNFPA distributed 200 dignity kits to the women and girls at the Sovulo care center last week and interagency reproductive health kits to the West New Britain Provincial Health Center to administer to the women and girls from the disaster area. 

These Dignity Kits and RH kits are part of the Regional Prepositioning Initiative by UNFPA’s Asia Pacific Regional Office, made available with the support of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Under this programme,  UNFPA works with governments and national partners to implement global standards that meet the immediate needs of women and girls in humanitarian crises.

UNFPA’s distribution of dignity kits during disasters reduces vulnerability and connects women and girls to information, support and services. Dignity kits contain underwear, basic clothing, sanitary pads, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and laundry powder. 

Mr. Luveni who helped in the distribution of the Dignity Kits spoke on the importance of the contents in the DK’s and how most times women and girls and their needs are overlooked. 

“As much as food items are necessary in times of crisis, so are the dignity of women and girls and how they can maintain it. It is really hard for our women to get sanitary products while being displaced or a simple soap for our young girls.”

“I see the contents in the DK’s and it makes me happy knowing that the women and girls here in Sovulu will really appreciate it. Thank you so much UNFPA, this is a first of its kind and it is very helpful,” Mr. Luveni added.