During conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies, sexual and reproductive health needs are easily overlooked as the attention is likely to be focused on directly affected people, wounded and displaced “IDPs”. 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 increased risk of infections due to poor conditions and lack of appropriate hygiene measures of women and girls.  

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 early recovery phases. UNFPA’s emergency response includes supplies for essential reproductive health equipment, medications & disposables, safe delivery kits, capacity building to health providers on Minimal initial service package “MISP” and safe delivery to increase access of pregnant women to safe birth and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. Responses are tailored to the circumstances of each crisis ; following 2014 war on Gaza, UNFPA supported mobile clinics offering RH care to women and girls in shelters and marginalized communities,  distributed dignity and postnatal kits for women and girls and conducted three assessment on the impact of the war on reproductive health “RH” status, gender based violence “GBV” and Youth. 

UNFPA addresses GBV in humanitarian settings through working with partners and supporting wide range of services , including psychosocial support, counseling, recreational activities, legal support, assistance with livelihoods, supporting safe spaces for women and girls to enhance their protection and sustain their wellbeing. UNFPA also incorporates violence prevention in its humanitarian response, reaching out to vulnerable adolescents and youth, sending messages to communities and increasing the awareness of men and boys about gender equality. UNFPA is leading the GBV Working group, under the Protection Cluster,  that consolidate and oversee GBV efforts by various stakeholders and help in collecting GBV data, networking and improving management of gender-based-violence-related data through the Gender-Based Violence Management Information System “GBVMIS”.

 

Young people represents a large proportion of the Palestinian community, according to PCBS youth aged 15-29 comprises 30% of the Palestinian population.  In emergencies, young people are particularly vulnerable to risk of depression and destructive behaviors, and they urgently need information and services to protect themselves from disease and fulfill their basic needs of hygiene and health care. 

 

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. During and after the 2014 crisis on Gaza Young people played crucial role in delivering humanitarian aid to IDPs and marginalized communities.