Nepal, Sept. 7 -- After deadly disasters, people often assume that everyone who is displaced has similar needs. The recent Bhotekoshi flash flood displaced thousands of people; they are now living in temporary settlements. Men, women, children, elderly people and the injured-all are sharing the same roof. Then there are also pregnant women, new mothers and breastfeeding mothers. For instance, at the holding centre in Bidur, Nuwakot, more than 500 of 1,000 people are women, including pregnant and new mothers. But housing women with special needs alongside others in such shelters can have serious consequences.

In crowded shelters, women lack private space to bathe, dry their clothes and breastfeed children, let alone align their nutritiona...