The funds will be used to provide over 45 million people with life-saving reproductive health services and essential support to prevent gender-based violence.
The appeal comes after it is estimated that 11 million people will need immediate assistance in 2025.
Record displacement and destruction
UNFPA recalled that a record 122.6 million people were displaced this year due to global crises. Half of this number are women and girls, for whom the consequences of disasters and climate shocks often prove devastating.
For example, pregnancy and childbirth can put their lives at risk, and these situations can lead to a sharp increase in rape and other gender-based violence.
Moreover, the crisis is growing and the lack of financing to meet the growing demand has resulted in a gap of 75 percent between demand and resources in 34 countries. As a result, hundreds of women and girls are denied vital services, often with life-threatening or fatal consequences.
Investing in women and girls is important
“Through this appeal for funding, we are calling on the international community to invest in the health and dignity of women and girls in crisis and to build a future free from fear and violence,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem. is
In 2025, UNFPA will aim for two main priorities – strengthening local and national responses and enhancing emergency preparedness, as well as increasing the share of humanitarian funding for local women-led organizations from 35 percent to 43 percent.
These steps will help enhance initial response capabilities by pre-emptively stocking or expanding critical supplies across global hubs. This will ensure effective action in case of crisis without delay.
Despite access and financing challenges, UNFPA has succeeded in providing reproductive health care to more than 10 million people by 2024. In addition, the organization has provided essential assistance and gender-based violence prevention and response services to 3.6 million people in 59 crisis-affected countries.
The UN agency has deployed a vast network of thousands of midwives and medical teams to respond to humanitarian needs. In addition, 3,500 health facilities have been equipped with life-saving equipment and 1,600 safe spaces for women and girls have been set up.