The European Union steps up its support for UNFPA with €1.5 million to protect the health and rights of women and girls – Ukraine

UNITED NATIONS, New York – The European Commission has announcement a contribution of 1.5 million euros to UNFPA, the United Nations agency for sexual and reproductive health, to ensure that women and girls in Ukraine have immediate access to sexual and reproductive health services , including survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

Since the beginning of the war, more than 8 million people have been displaced inside Ukraine. The majority are women and girls, including pregnant women who urgently need access to medical care and assistance.

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by natural and man-made crises, as access to essential life-saving services decreases and vulnerabilities to gender-based violence increase. “History has repeatedly shown that women are the main victims of wars and conflicts, and the war in Ukraine is no different,” said Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management. “Support to UNFPA will fund the immediate humanitarian response for women and girls, including survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, with access to sexual and reproductive health services. This also includes vital medical care,” Lenarčič added.

The grant will also support the establishment of two mobile health units for emergency obstetric and neonatal care in war-affected areas, as well as the purchase and distribution of essential medical supplies and equipment to health facilities. health, in particular to meet the needs of pregnant women.

Since the start of the war, UNFPA has worked around the clock to scale up the delivery of essential and life-saving services for women and girls, and to ensure that strong mechanisms are in place to protect them from violence, exploitation and abuse. Reproductive health supplies and equipment, including for obstetric emergencies and clinical management of rape, have been distributed to mobile health teams and hospitals in war-torn towns across the country. Mobile units, made up of psychologists and social workers, have also been deployed in 12 cities, providing psychosocial support to women victims of violence and trauma. Crisis roomswhich provide temporary but safe refuge for women and children fleeing bullets and bombs, also continue to operate.

“For pregnant women, the crisis in Ukraine is devastating. What should be a joyous time, childbirth, has become very dangerous, especially in areas of active hostilities,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem. “With the contribution of the European Union, UNFPA will increase its delivery of life-saving reproductive health services and help equip health facilities with much-needed supplies.”

UNFPA teams are on the ground, working with donors, local partners and governments in Ukraine and neighboring countries to save lives, alleviate suffering and reach the most vulnerable first. UNFPA urgently needs funds to meet the needs of war-affected women and girls.