Regional Highlights

• All  countries  in  Eastern  Europe  and  Central Asia, except    Turkmenistan,    have    officially    reported COVID-19  cases.  Belarus,  Armenia  and  Moldova are  the  most  affected  relative  to  their  population size.   Türkiye   is   the   most   affected   country   in absolute   numbers   (making   up   55   percent   of reported  cases  in  the  region)  and  ranks  fourth among   UNFPA   programme   countries,   globally, after Brazil, India and Peru.
• In   the   context   of   UNFPA’s   focus   on   ensuring responses   to   the   most   vulnerable   people,   the Regional   Director   published   an   opinion   piece calling for the health and rights of older people to be protected during COVID-19; it was published by over 60 news outlets across the region.
• The   region   has   seen   strong   support   from   the European Union. The private sector and academia also  offered  a  wide  range  of  support  to  UNFPA programmes,  from  in-kind  to  technical  expertise, making   their   response   truly   multisectoral   and creating new partnership possibilities.
• UNFPA   scaled   up   existing   partnerships   and entered   new   ones   in   support   of   COVID-19 responses, including a new partnership with Body Shop in Georgia aimed at addressing GBV.
• UNFPA continued special efforts to reach the most vulnerable with information, supplies and services, including to survivors of GBV in shelters, pregnant and lactating women, older persons, persons with disabilities,    migrants    and    refugees    and    key populations     at     higher     risk     of     HIV.     Risk communication  materials  were  produced  to  reach these vulnerable groups.
• UNFPA  actively  engages  young  people  on  risk communication   and   empowerment   with   online campaigns   such   as   #YouthAgainstCOVID   and #HealthyChallenge.