As the United Nations marked the International Women's Day centennial on Tuesday, the UN humanitarian chief drew attention to the women displaced by conflicts or national disasters around the world.
Valerie Amos, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, called on the international community to remember the challenging conditions facing displaced women.
"Forced to live in camps, sometimes for many years, with poor washing and sanitation facilities, and limited educational opportunities for their children," said Amos in a statement issued here.
Amos arrived on Tuesday in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC), a country plagued with widespread violence and conflicts, UN officials said here.
"The persistence of sexual violence in DRC shames us all. A disturbing and horrifying reality for thousands of children, women and men," she was quoted as saying.
On International Women's Day, Amos called on the world to make a difference by "providing girls and women with education and information ... Making sure they have the confidence to stand up for themselves to challenge and to be a central part of shaping their own futures."
