[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 22 (Wednesday, March 2, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E325-E326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND INFANT TSUNAMI VICTIM RELIEF 
                              ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 2, 2005

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill that will 
help thousands of women, children, and families who have suffered since 
the horrific tsunami hit Asia on December 26, 2004. This bill, the 
Women, Children, and Infant Tsunami Victim Relief Act of 2005, 
authorizes $3 million to the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, to 
provide severely needed urgent medical and health care to tsunami 
victims in Indonesia, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
  UNFPA has made an urgent appeal to donor nations to raise $27.5 
million to provide relief to women in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the 
Maldives. Due to its extensive experience responding to emergencies, 
UNFPA was one of the first respondents in the tsunami-affected areas 
helping women.
  More than 150,000 women are currently pregnant in the tsunami-
affected areas, including 50,000 anticipated to give birth during the 
next 3 months. UNFPA is determined to enhance the likelihood of 
deliveries occurring in safe and clean conditions by providing 
emergency care, basic supplies, and helping to rebuild health care 
facilities.
  Disasters put pregnant women at greater than normal risk because of 
the sudden loss of medical support, compounded in many cases by trauma, 
malnutrition, disease, or exposure to violence. In times of high 
stress, pregnant women are more prone to miscarriage or to premature 
labor, both of which require medical care.
  UNFPA works to reduce maternal deaths and illnesses by providing 
prenatal care, delivery assistance, access to emergency obstetric care, 
and post-natal care. It provides services to avoid malnutrition, which 
frequently occurs after natural disasters when food supplies are 
unavailable or uneven. Vitamin and iron deficiencies, especially 
anemia, can be fatal for pregnant women and their babies. Nursing women 
require supplemental funding to ensure their health and that of their 
baby.
  For example, in Sri Lanka, the UNFPA-supported maternal hospital was 
being flooded, and staff was able to move all patients but one 
premature infant to safety and it has set up a temporary facility to 
provide critical health services.
  This bill specifies that the funds included can only be used by UNFPA 
to provide safe delivery kits--soap, plastic sheeting, razor

[[Page E326]]

blades, string and gloves--personal hygiene kits--sanitary napkins, 
soap, laundry detergent, dental supplies--reestablish maternal health 
services, prevent and treat cases of violence against women and youth, 
offer psychological support and counseling, and promote access of 
unaccompanied women to vital services. Each of these issues is a 
serious problem in the region and will go a long way toward helping 
save the lives of thousands of women and their children.
  These people have suffered enough. We must do everything we can to 
help them. This is why I ask support from my colleagues for the Women, 
Children, and Infant Tsunami Victim Relief Act of 2005.

                          ____________________