News

After Peru floods, women emerge as leaders, advocates

calendar_today04 January 2018

Lily emerged as a leader after floods displaced thousands in and around Íllimo. © UNFPA Peru/Angela Valverde
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News

UNFPA delivers aid to previously unreached Sheikh Maqsoud in Aleppo

calendar_today02 January 2018

UNFPA and Syrian Arab Red Cross arrived in Sheikh Maqsoud on 28 December, the first time a UN agency has entered the area with aid. © UNFPA Syria
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Publication date

Nov 2017

Author

UNFPA Regional Syria Response Hub

Resources

Regional Situation Report for Syria Crisis #63 1-30 November 2017

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News

Solar power brings light to Congolese refugees in Angola

calendar_today26 December 2017

Ester and her children fled violence in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They have just arrived in the Lóvua settlement in north-east Angola. © UNFPA/Tiril Skarstein
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Publication date

Nov 2017

Author

UNFPA Yemen

Resources

UNFPA Response in Yemen Monthly Situation Report #11 – November 2017

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Slideshow

Two years into Greece’s migration crisis, a look at maternal health for refugees

calendar_today15 December 2017

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Some 173,000 people poured into Greece in 2016, many of them women and girls fleeing violence and turmoil in their home countries. In November 2016, Tayma Abzali and her new baby, Helen, were living in a tent. Photo by Lynsey Addario for Time.

At a ceremony held on 14 December 2017, UNFPA formally handed over its work to the Government, which will carry on efforts to reach the 48,000 refugees and migrants estimated to be living in Greece today. Photo by Lynsey Addario for Time.

The refugees have serious reproductive health needs – including antenatal care, safe delivery services, family planning, and clinical manage of rape. Illham Saleh spent the end of her pregnancy in an old tobacco warehouse. Photo by Lynsey Addario for Time

Souad Syed Iessa, 25, got no prenatal care while fleeing Syria. Once she was ready to deliver, doctors discovered she had life-threatening complications. After a tense four-hour surgery, both she and the baby survived. Photo by Lynsey Addario for Time.

At the onset of the crisis, UNFPA deployed emergency reproductive health services, supporting mobile reproductive health clinics and outreach workers. Ms. Abzali and Helen in their tent, which had no access to hot water. Photo by Lynsey Addario for Time.

UNFPA also trained health workers and others, improving local capacity to serve these vulnerable women. Noor Alhouda Talaa was terrified to give birth in Greece, without her mother: “Here there is no one to help me.” Photo by Lynsey Addario for Time.

Since 2015, UNFPA has trained 1,350 people in Greece and 200 from the wider region, covering reproductive health, clinical care for rape, case management and related topics. Many of those trained are training others. Photo by Lynsey Addario for Time.

News

Amid Marawi crisis, displaced young people empower their communities

calendar_today13 December 2017

A girl shares her thoughts at UNFPA's youth outreach mission in Pantar, Lanao del Norte. © UNFPA Philippines
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News

As Rohingya refugee crisis escalates, women emerge as front-line responders

calendar_today06 December 2017

“Auntie Leila,” a local member of the Rohingya community, reaches out to refugee women and brings them to UNFPA's women-friendly spaces. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince
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Slideshow

Amid Rohingya refugee crisis, women emerge as heroes

calendar_today06 December 2017

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The border between Bangladesh and Myanmar is seeing the world’s the fastest growing refugee crisis. Aid workers are racing to reach those in need. Pictured: People struggle to get aid at the start of the crisis. ©UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

Many have experienced unimaginable grief. Kabir, Kulsum and their two children pose with a family portrait from home. The family is smaller now; their youngest child and eight other family members were killed. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

“The outside wounds are healing, but the inside wound will always be raw,” this woman said. Her home was burned, killing her husband and six family members. She was beaten and stabbed. Image blurred for her safety. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

Even after they arrive, violence – especially gender-based violence – remains a concern. Many women are alone, or are now the heads of their families. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

Women are in critical need of maternal health services. Merula’s baby was delivered inside this tent with the help of her mother. She now has three children to care for – in addition to her husband, who was shot. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

Yet women are emerging as leaders, connecting one another to aid and support. Monowala (left) is an outreach volunteer, connecting women and girls to UNFPA’s women-friendly spaces. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

“Auntie Leila” is from the local Rohingya community. “Whenever I find a survivor of gender-based violence among new arrivals or around the streets, I make sure to bring them here” to one of the spaces, she said. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

The safe spaces provide access to information, medical care and referrals to counselling. “It’s vital that women can access female service providers for support, said Rafia, a UNFPA caseworker. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

“It is very difficult work at times, but I am a woman and I see the misery of women through my own eyes,” said Sharmin Sultana, another caseworker. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

Women’s participation in public life is highly restricted. The safe spaces offer a place for women to come together. Here, women learn handicrafts and share stories. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

Aid worker Mosrafa greets a family in the Leda settlement. She says local women volunteers are essential. “They know the language and culture. Women are confident to share their stories with them.” © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

Midwives are also providing life-saving care, both at the safe spaces and at mobile clinics. In this clinic in Balukhali, a midwife named Sharifa built a birthing table from bamboo with her own hands. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

The midwives provide maternal care as well as clinical management of rape. Sabekun, 25 weeks pregnant, has an antenatal check-up after walking for seven days. “Now I feel more at peace,” she said. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

Midwife Rabeya stabilized the mother of this newborn. The mother arrived in a state of shock immediately after delivery. The baby was still attached to the placenta. © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

One Rohingya volunteer says solidarity among women could help to break stigma around rape. “We must share with each other and lift the burden of all the trauma.” © UNFPA Bangladesh/Naymuzzaman Prince

News

View from a camp in Myanmar – one family's story from before the recent crisis

calendar_today04 December 2017

Even before the recent escalation of the crisis in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, conditions were tense and crowded. © UNFPA Myanmar/Karlien Truyens
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