Many people in the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) face major barriers in meeting their basic needs; food insecurity continues to be widespread and the country’s health system is challenged by poor infrastructure, shortage of essential medicines and limited skills among health personnel. Vulnerabilities are exacerbated by recurrent natural disasters, such as floods and droughts. In the DPRK, UNFPA supports health facilities that provide life-saving sexual and reproductive health services, including emergency obstetric care, and distributes dignity kits, to support people in meeting their basic hygiene needs.

Mongolia suffers from a harsh climate with winter emergencies that can wipe out millions of livestock at the core of rural livelihoods. In 2016, a hot and dry summer followed by an extremely harsh winter, known locally as a dzud, caused the death of over a million animals and left herders in need of humanitarian support. The death of so much livestock has significantly reduced the ability of households to access sufficient food, leading to health and nutrition concerns for families. UNFPA's work in Mongolia has helped the most vulnerable individuals affected, namely young children and pregnant women. In concerted efforts with the Government of Mongolia, UNFPA helps to increase the availability and use of integrated sexual and reproductive health services to decrease the affected populations' exposure to sexually transmitted infections and to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies.

Myanmar faces multiple overlapping humanitarian needs caused by natural disasters, inter-communal violence and protracted armed conflicts. Conflict in Kachin, Kayin, Shan and Rakhine states has left many people internally displaced. Movement restrictions and insecurity constrain access to basic services, including lifesaving sexual and reproductive health care. Crowded conditions in displacement sites also increase health risks. Women in conflict-affected areas furthermore face a high risk of gender-based violence, trafficking and harmful practices. Together with partners, UNFPA is supporting affected populations with services and information on SRH and GBV, including mental health and psychosocial support.

Nepal is highly susceptible to natural hazards such as earthquakes and floods. Vulnerabilities are compounded by poverty; around a quarter of the population lives in extreme poverty, many in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Availability and quality of public services, including healthcare, is limited. UNFPA co-leads humanitarian preparedness and response in the areas of sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence prevention and response, together with relevant Government ministries. UNFPA’s preparedness work focuses on enhancing coordination, strengthening capacities of service providers and other stakeholders, developing and updating disaster preparedness plans and guidelines, and prepositioning life-saving relief materials, including reproductive health and dignity kits. In response to disasters, UNFPA distributes these kits and provides SRH and GBV services and information to affected populations, particularly women and young people.

"Pakistan is affected by recurrent natural disasters and an ongoing nutrition crisis. The country also hosts the second-largest number of refugees in the world, predominantly from Afghanistan. Vulnerabilities are exacerbated by pervasive poverty and poor access to basic services, including safe water, sanitation and health care, in many communities. Women and girls also face grave protection risks, including gender-based violence and harmful practices such as early and forced marriage. UNFPA provides sexual and reproductive health services and supports mechanisms to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in crisis-affected communities. "

Papua New Guinea is among the most disaster-prone countries in the world; hazards include earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, droughts, flooding and associated disease outbreaks. Vulnerabilities are compounded by environmental and social factors such as tribal fighting, rapid population growth, urbanization, land degradation and climate change. UNFPA priorities in Papua New Guinea include disaster preparedness, awareness raising on sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender-based violence, and capacity strengthening of health workers.

The Philippines is among the most disaster-prone countries in the world, experiencing multiple destructive cyclones each year, in addition to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In the Mindanao region, conflict between government forces and several armed groups continues to drive displacement. UNFPA provides disaster-affected and displaced women, girls and young people with sexual and reproductive health and protection services. Boys and men are engaged in awareness raising activities on gender-based violence in emergencies. To strengthen preparedness, UNFPA prepositions supplies, including emergency reproductive health kits and emergency maternity tent sets, and works with government counterparts to enhance linkages between humanitarian assistance, development and peacebuilding in the Philippines.

Sri Lanka is prone to natural disasters, most notably cyclones that can cause flooding and landslides. In such emergency situations, UNFPA supports the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure that the affected populations are aware of and have access to sexual and reproductive health services and that women and adolescents are able to maintain their dignity and safety from gender-based violence.

Bangladesh hosts one of the world’s largest refugee populations and is also highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters. UNFPA and partners are strengthening preparedness and anticipatory actions. Assistance to Rohingya refugees, and their host community, includes women-friendly spaces, psychosocial support, family planning and midwifery services.