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Home Humanitarian emergencies
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Earthquake in Nepal
UNFPA is responding to the urgent needs of women and girls
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Crisis in Iraq
Millions of people in Iraq have been internally displaced by fighting between government
forces and armed opposition groups.
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Emergency in South Sudan
In December 2013, violence broke out in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, and spread rapidly
across the country.
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Crisis in Syria
Since the beginning of conflict three years ago, more than 2.5 million people, mostly
women and children, have been registered as refugees in neighbouring countries.
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Ebola Crisis
By September 20, 2014, an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus disease in West Africa had
killed over 2,803 people. The outbreak currently threatens millions more.
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Humanitarian emergencies
During conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies, sexual and reproductive health needs
are easily overlooked – yet these needs are often staggering.
In crisis situations, one in five women of childbearing age is likely to be pregnant. Without
access to reproductive health services, these women face an increased risk of life-threatening
complications. Many women also lose access to family planning, exposing them to unwanted
pregnancies in perilous conditions. Women and young people also become more vulnerable to
sexual violence, exploitation and HIV infection. And the hygiene needs of women and girls are
often neglected.
UNFPA works closely with governments, UN agencies, community-based organizations and
other partners to ensure that reproductive health is integrated into emergency responses. UNFPA
deploys hygiene supplies, obstetric and family planning supplies, trained personnel, and other
support to vulnerable populations, and works to ensure the needs of women and young people
are served through both an emergency and the reconstruction phase.
Read more
Heightened vulnerabilities
Even under normal conditions, reproductive health issues are a leading cause of death and illness
among women of childbearing age. When a crisis strikes, skilled birth attendance and emergency
obstetric care often become unavailable, exacerbating the vulnerability of pregnant women.
Women face other threats as well. The absence of health services and other factors can increase
the risks of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. And the breakdown of
protection systems often leads to a rise in gender-based violence. In addition, the burden of care
women assume for children and others can make it difficult for them to take proper care of
themselves. Women may neglect their own needs as they care for their families and neighbours.
UNFPA in emergencies
Antenatal, safe delivery and post-partum care: UNFPA’s emergency response includes supplies
for prenatal care; clean delivery kits to help prevent infections among women who cannot reach
a medical facility during delivery; equipment and medicines for clinical deliveries; supplies for
emergency obstetric care; and support to address post-partum complications that can arise for
both mothers and newborns. UNFPA also provides on-the-ground training for health workers
and midwives.
Responses are tailored to the circumstances of each crisis. Ad hoc delivery rooms may be set up
in damaged buildings, mobile health clinics may be dispatched, and midwives are sometimes
provided with motorcycles. More comprehensive services are organized when the worst of the
crisis has passed.
Family planning: Many couples want to avoid pregnancy and childbearing during crisis
situations, but lack the means to do so. The absence of voluntary family planning in emergencies
means higher risks of unintended pregnancies, greater health risks for pregnant women, and
possible health consequences for those who resort to unsafe abortions. Restoring access to safe,
effective contraception protects the lives and well-being of women and enables crisis-affected
couples to manage scarce family resources more effectively.
UNFPA ships male and female condoms and other family planning supplies to affected areas
within the first hours of an emergency. When the situation stabilizes, UNFPA conducts rapid
assessments to determine local needs and preferences and supports efforts to make a wide range
of modern contraceptive methods available.
Addressing gender-based violence
UNFPA addresses gender-based violence in humanitarian settings with a wide range of services,
including counselling, post-rape treatment, legal support, assistance with livelihoods, and support
through its sexual and reproductive health programmes. UNFPA also incorporates violence
prevention in its humanitarian response, reaching out to vulnerable adolescents and youth,
sending messages to men and boys about gender equality, and working closely with faith-based
networks and cultural leaders to reinforce support systems.
Since 2005, UNFPA has co-led, with UNICEF, the Gender-Based Violence Area of
Responsibility of the Global Protection Cluster, which oversees the humanitarian community’s
response to gender-based violence. UNFPA also works to strengthens services, information and
referral systems for survivors, and helps develop the capacity of partners to effectively design,
manage, and evaluate programmes to address gender-based violence in emergencies. For
example, the Fund establishes systems for improved management of gender-based-violencerelated data through the Gender-Based Violence Management Information System, and supports
the interagency GenCap initiative, which deploys gender advisors to emergencies on short
notice.
Young people
Young people often represent a large proportion of those affected by crises. In some countries,
two thirds of the population is under 25, and half of the world's out-of-school children live in
conflict or post-conflict countries. Displaced young people are particularly vulnerable to HIV,
and they urgently need information and services to protect themselves from disease and
unintended pregnancies.
UNFPA places a high priority on safeguarding young people's well-being and supporting their
successful transition to adulthood. UNFPA raises awareness of and addresses the specific needs
and concerns of young people affected by war or crisis, often using innovative and participatory
approaches.
Data collection
UNFPA plays a critical role in collecting data during emergencies. These assessments help guide
crisis responses, enabling humanitarian organizations and affected populations to better
understand how needs are evolving under rapidly changing circumstances. UNFPA is uniquely
well suited to perform this work. The Fund collaborates with national statistical organizations in
developing and middle-income countries, facilitating the collection, analysis, dissemination, and
use of reliable data and information. UNFPA also has a wealth of experience, from the country
and regional levels to the global level, on population and development issues.
UNFPA collaborates in humanitarian programming through the Inter-Agency Standing
Committee, the mechanism for coordinating humanitarian assistance. UNFPA also issues
guidance on issues involving data collection during humanitarian crises.
Read more
News
24 August 2015
Syrian refugee parents take a stand against child marriage
18 August 2015
Health camps bring life-saving care to disaster survivors
18 August 2015
Youth spring into action in wake of Myanmar’s floods
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More News
Resources
Regional Situation Report for Syria Crisis #35 - 1-31 July 2015
Violence has escalated in several parts of Syria. Of the 4.6 million people living in hard-to-reach
areas, 422,000 remained besieged. This included...
South Sudan Country Office Situation Report #63 - 01-15 July 2015
The security situation remains tense countrywide. Intermittent clashes were reported in some
states early this month, coupled with intercommunal...
Regional Situation Report for Syria Crisis #34 - 1-30 June 2015
Millions of Syrians have been forcibly displaced internally or into the surrounding region as a
result of persecution and conflict, as well as human...
Breaking the Silence
This pictorial book documents the impact of the years of violence on Syrian women, girls, men
and boys.
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Publications
Women are the Fabric
Women form the backbone of families and communities. When emergencies strike, their
important contributions become even more vital. But in times of crisis, the particular strengths an
vulnerabilities of women are...
Guidelines on Data Issues in Humanitarian Crisis Situations
Guidelines on Data Issues in Humanitarian Crisis Situations
Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Toolkit for Humanitarian Settings
This Toolkit is intended to guide humanitarian programme managers and healthcare providers to
ensure that sexual and reproductive health interventions put into place both during and after a
crisis are responsive to...
More Publications
Videos
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Protecting women post-Haiyan
Video of j6H4jSn5PLo
Healing the Wounds of War in Bosnia
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Birth Amid Chaos in Gaza
Protecting women post-Haiyan
Healing the Wounds of War in Bosnia
Birth Amid Chaos in Gaza
More Videos
Tweets about #EbolaResponse OR #SyriaCrisis OR #SouthSudan
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