Humanitarian assistance should support women to protect themselves and their children. Multi-sectoral approaches to women's health, nutrition and protection should be central to all humanitarian assistance. Health and Nutrition In armed conflict, primary and reproductive health, disability, sanitation and food security should be essential components of emergency health agendas. Reproductive health care is important for the physical and psychosocial well being of men and women and should be available in all situations. One of the most immediate effects of armed conflict is the disruption of food production and supplies.
Nutritional crises result and dependency on food assistance increases.
A good way to ensure that food and other forms of assistance benefit the most vulnerable, including children, the sick and the elderly, is to give women more control over the design and distribution of food aid. This has a devastating impact on women and adolescent girls who are systematically targeted as victims of sexual violence and exploitation. In armed conflict, women witness and experience terrible atrocities with resulting profound psychological and social effects. These undermine relationships, social networks, and further contribute to the material and economic devastation of conflict. Psycho-social support should be central to humanitarian assistance, guided by an understanding of and a respect for local culture and traditions.