The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said that the deterioration of security in Iraq left 250,000 women and girls, including nearly 60,000 pregnant women, in need of urgent care.
"With the increasing load on the health facilities, UNFPA expects an increase in the number of births where women do not receive any assistance, putting the lives of mothers and babies at risk," said Stephane Dujarric the spokesman for the UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).
He expressed UN's concern over the risk of the vulnerability of women and girls to violence in Iraq "We must act immediately to ensure that women and girls are protected from sexual violence," said UNFPA’s Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin.