This year, a cascade of records has marked the global landscape – the hottest year in human history, an unprecedented number of displaced individuals, and the most severe hunger crises. Amid these shattered thresholds, a grim new reality emerges: one in every 22 people worldwide now requires humanitarian support, while the global humanitarian system grapples with its most significant funding shortfall in years.
In response to these challenges, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, UNFPA, has launched its annual humanitarian appeal. This urgent call aims to bolster the delivery of life-saving reproductive health services and programs, with a focus on preventing gender-based violence. Encompassing 58 countries and targeting 48 million people, the appeal responds to the pressing needs of some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
The highest funding requirements are identified in Afghanistan, where an astonishing $216 million is urgently needed. Years of conflict, poverty, political instability, and recurrent drought have eroded decades of progress, particularly in upholding the rights of women and girls. With two-thirds of the population requiring humanitarian assistance, Afghanistan faces a critical situation exacerbated by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake in early October, impacting already underserved and hard-to-access areas.
Sediqa Karimi, a midwife within a UNFPA-supported mobile health team, shared her firsthand experience in the village of Naeb Rafi, where she witnessed the immediate aftermath of the earthquake. The devastation left her traumatized, emphasizing the urgent need for assistance, especially in a country where giving birth is one of the most dangerous endeavors for women.
“As crisis strikes, women and girls pay the steepest price,” warns UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem. She underscores the importance of prioritizing women and girls in humanitarian responses to avoid a surge in gender-based violence, child marriage, and pregnancy-related deaths.
The appeal also sheds light on other regions facing critical challenges. In Gaza, pregnant women like 35-year-old Walaa endure the impact of war, lacking access to reproductive health care and facing uncertainty in hospitals. Yemen, with nearly half of its health facilities closed due to escalated conflict, relies heavily on UNFPA for life-saving reproductive health services amid repeated cycles of drought and flooding.
The appeal aligns with recent UNFPA data revealing that countries most vulnerable to climate change exhibit the highest rates of maternal death, child marriage, and gender-based violence. Over the next decade, the intersections of climate and conflict are expected to force more women and girls to seek safety elsewhere, exposing them to increased violence.
Despite the escalating challenges, UNFPA’s humanitarian programs were only 50% funded this year, with responses to gender-based violence remaining one of the most neglected sectors. Dr. Kanem emphasizes that the collective effort is crucial for creating a world where the health, safety, and rights of women and girls take precedence, forming the foundation for the peace, justice, and security they urgently need.
