UNFPA believes that every Syrian woman and girl has the right to have access to affordable reproductive health care and be effectively protected from gender-based violence. UNFPA and its partners are scaling up efforts to empower and improve the lives of Syrian women and youth and impacted communities in host countries, including by advocating for human rights and gender equality, to better cope with and recover from the crisis.

Initial reports indicate that women in evacuation centers and host communities are experiencing acute needs, for which the MoH requires essential supplies and RH services. Many health facilities and birthing clinics have been destroyed and damaged, with limited access to life-saving maternal and neonatal health services. Violence against women has also been confirmed in the Vanuatu Women’s Counseling Center monitoring missions in Shefa as well as in reports from the medical staff. In addition, the MIRA has indicated high rates of psychosocial distress among the population.

When disaster strikes, UNFPA ensures that the reproductive health needs and protection concerns of women and girls are integrated into emergency responses. One of the ways in which UNFPA supports women and girls in the aftermath of natural disasters is by providing ‘dignity kits’. See what UNFPA includes in its dignity kits. 

As part of the Vanuatu Flash Appeal launched on 24 March 2015 in Port Vila, seeking US$29.9 million for humanitarian operations for the next 3 months, UNFPA received an initial allocation of CERF funds for $225,000 of the total requested $680,000. This will meet the life saving sexual and reproductive health and protection needs of women and young girls.