recounted similar experiences. the va doesn t provide abortion services, adding to growing concern among military women. nbc was denied multiple requests for interviews. instead they provided us with a statement, saying approximately 300,000 women veterans of childbearing age rely on us for health care including services such as contraception, fertility care, and maternity care, and we will continue to make sure they have timely access to the full suite of reproductive care. why is the va not doing women s health care for abortion? why is that not happening? reporter: congresswoman brownlee is hearing from women demanding better health care specific to their needs, especially in states,abortion is banned. democratic lawmakers say the va can expand services under existing law. the secretary has the authority to make that rule
goma s survival. translator: it is a huge problem not only because of it deprives the population of electricity but also because it s the main source of energy for the water pumping stations in the city. if we can t get clean water to 2 million people, the problems of water borne diseases surface. reporter: the united nations says it ll cost more than a billion dollars to fix the damage so far caused by the volcanic eruption. around 400,000 people have been evacuated from the area. many homes, shops and the power grids and water supplies that sustained them were left to the lava, and that could take time to rebuild. you re talking about infrastructure, mainly roads which have been covered by lava. fortunately, it did not advance, you know, to for example the airport. the needs are huge. but i think if the situation stays as it is, maybe something could be done rapidly. reporter: some who fled goma and took refuge are trying to return, some thinking the danger is over even thoug
government says it is still not safe to return. the lava that swept through this wooded area has cooled into igneus rock but pockets are still smoking and it smells like charcoal. one man said he thought not to leave because he thought conditions on the road could be just as dangerous as staying home. translator: even if others left hunger would kill people, so that s why i said no. if the volcano erupts, if the gas comes, i will say. reporter: the international committee of the red cross says food shortages are likely. main supply routes cut off and thousands of people searching for shelter and portable water whereby aid agencies also say hundreds of children have been separated from their families in the rush to leave goma. it s a humanitarian nightmare that scientists say could get even worse if another volcanic or grand eruption happens especially if that activity spews more debris and toxic
welcome back. so the threat of another volcanic eruption looms over the city of goma in the democratic republic of congo. now, if it happens it could be the second eruption in a week. already the city is unrecognizable as you can see here with damaged roads, no water, hundreds of homes washed away in the lava. now, officials say the cost of repairing the damaged infrastructure will be huge. and another eruption could be catastrophic. lar larry medoa is in goma and filed this report. reporter: crews trudge over hardened grounds. workers from the national park race to repair electrical lines destroyed by the eruption of the volcano and the after shocks that followed. with seismologists reporting 61 earthquakes in a 24-hour period. officials and experts say getting the power back here is critical to the nearby city of
this is what we all want to see happen. scenario number two is the earthquakes and eruptions continue but the lava doesn t reach the surface. scenario number three is a little more concerning. if the lava flows onto the land or perhaps into the lake which is just to the south of goma, this could be problematic. we remember the eruption back in 2002 that was so devastating for this particular area. and then the worst-case scenario, the least likely scenario but something that cannot be completely ruled out by the goma volcanic observatory is what is an eruption, so basically the lava moves its way through fissures and releases unfortunately lethal gases of carbon dioxide that can be deadly to humans and animals in the surrounding area. so a very dynamic situation with several scenarios possible going forward. thanks for that update. let s hope the best case scenario manages to play out. good to see you. coming up on cnn, texas is trying to join other republican