As the number of rape stories continues to rise since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, nearly 2,880 morning-after pills have been rushed to Ukrainian hospitals through the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). , “International Planned Parenthood Federation” in French), reports the Guardian.
“The processing time for victims of sexual violence is really essential”explains to the British newspaper Julie Taft, humanitarian director of the IPPF. “If a woman consults within five days of [un viol]this drug should be automatically administered to him.”
While this type of medicine was widely available in Ukraine before the conflict began, many local manufacturing and supply chains have been destroyed. The war has also “caused the displacement of patients and healthcare providers and increased the rate of sexual assaults”observe le Guardian.
Lyudmyla Denisova, commissioner for human rights in the Ukrainian parliament, had also reported at the beginning of April nine cases of women who became pregnant after being raped by Russian soldiers. In addition to emergency contraceptives, IPPF has therefore sent abortion pills which can be used up to twenty-four weeks after the onset of pregnancy.
A number of rapes probably underestimated
The exact number of women receiving these emergency contraceptives specifically after having been raped remains unknown for the moment. Nevertheless, the Guardian relays the testimony of a volunteer from the Norwegian humanitarian association Paracrew who, during a delivery of medicine to a hospital in northern Kyiv, was told by staff that many survivors were being treated there.
Jamie Nadal, du United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), further explains that in times of war, the number of officially declared cases represents only “the tip of the iceberg”.
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“Survivors face multiple psychological, emotional and physical issues. And the anxiety related to a possible pregnancy is immense.comments Julie Taft. “So being able to prevent that in the first place is critical.”
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