when crisis hits humanitarian actors

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take action to support affected
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communities needs are often complex and
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can change rapidly humanitarian actors
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need to make decisions and prioritize
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their actions for the best possible
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response in this process the menstrual
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hygiene needs of women and girls are
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often overlooked or not considered at
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all mainly due to humanitarian staff and
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decision makers lacking knowledge of the
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risks and impact on women and girls if
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their needs are not met so what is
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menstrual hygiene management or mhm it's
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about making sure women and girls can
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privately safely and hygienic ly manage
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their monthly periods with confidence
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and dignity an estimated 26 million
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women and girls around the world are
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displaced right now disrupting how they
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manage their basic personal hygiene
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needs in recent years efforts driven by
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the I FRC and other humanitarian actors
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have strengthened understanding and
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gathered evidence on mhm here are some
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of the challenges and actions needed to
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effectively respond to menstrual hygiene
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needs
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girls may get a mix of practical
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information superstitions and cultural
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beliefs before they get their period or
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no information at all on how to manage
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it and stay healthy clear and factual
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information on the menstrual cycle and
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good hygiene practices need to be
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provided during any distributions
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demonstrate how to use care and dispose
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of personal items taboos social norms
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and misconceptions especially around
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blood and sexual health may limit women
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and girls from discussing their needs
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influence the types of materials used
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and can complicate disposal and cleaning
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engage with women girls men and boys
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about their experiences preferences
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cultural beliefs and challenges with mhm
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and work together to address these blood
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stains on clothing and worry about
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minstrel leaks can prevent or restrict
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girls and women from daily activities
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consult directly with women and girls on
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their preferences and make sure they
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have continuous access to essential
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items as well as pads and underwear
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distribute items to support washing
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drying and disposal finding a private
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safe clean and easily accessible toilet
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and bathing area can be difficult and
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may contribute to increased risk of
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sexual and gender-based violence ensure
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that private and safe toilets washing
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bathing and disposable facilities are
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available and that women and girls feel
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comfortable to use them paying close
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attention to culture proximity from
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housing lighting and solid wastes
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menstruation is a very personal thing
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all of these components and actions are
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influenced by individual preferences age
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socio-cultural context and barriers like
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lack of water these core actions ensure
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a holistic approach to addressing the
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three essential components of mhm
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support to women and girls access to
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materials private and safe facilities
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and information that's why male and
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female volunteers and staff need basic
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knowledge about menstruation as well as
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the confidence to talk about it and
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advocate for it
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so they can involve and engage with
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women girls boys and men right from the
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beginning and continuously monitor the
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use satisfaction and challenges of women
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and girls including following up after
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any distributions in both formal and
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informal ways based on all this feedback
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staff and volunteers would revise
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activities so they can continue to
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address the changing needs of women and
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girls because working together
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coordinating with others and sharing our
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lessons with the humanitarian community
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is the only way to ensure that in the
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future the menstrual hygiene needs of
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women and girls during crisis can be
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properly addressed always
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