How UNFPA Takes Action
UNFPA assistance begins in the initial phase of an emergency,
in the form of humanitarian assistance, and extends through rehabilitation
and beyond – to help meet the long-term goals of development
assistance. From airlifts of life-saving supplies to ongoing advocacy,
UNFPA support for reproductive health and rights takes many forms:
Quick response saves lives, which is why UNFPA ships pre-packaged
supplies directly to emergency situations. These supplies help
to implement the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) – a
set of objectives and activities for achieving certain minimum
requirements in an emergency. The MISP was developed by the Inter-Agency
Working Group for Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations, of
which UNFPA is a founding member.
Reproductive health needs in the early phase of an emergency include:
- Safe delivery for births with and without skilled
help
- Condoms to prevent STI transmission and unwanted pregnancy
- Contraceptives and family planning support
- Rape prevention
and management
- STI prevention and drugs for treatment
- HIV/AIDS prevention
- Care after miscarriages and unsafe abortions
- Sutures and surgery
for caesarian sections and bleeding
- Safe blood transfusions and
instructions on universal precautions
- Referrals for more advanced
care
Supplies to meet each of these needs are packaged together in
12 different emergency reproductive health kits. Depending on the
situation, orders might be placed for home delivery kits, condom
kits or kits with hospital-level equipment, for example. Once an
emergency stabilizes, the procurement of reproductive health materials
becomes a regular part of a more comprehensive health care programme.
Accurate data enable agencies to respond appropriately.
First, some basic questions must be answered: how many people need
help
and for how long? Who is at highest risk and why? How many women
are pregnant or lactating? Can existing services provide any reproductive
health care? What attitudes do the refugees have about reproductive
health?
Answers are found through interviews with refugee
leaders, discussion groups, questionnaires, surveys and checklists.
The
participation
of refugees themselves is an important part of the information-gathering
process.
UNFPA’s expertise in data collection and analysis is being
used more often in crisis situations as partners recognize the
Fund’s experience and the value of demographic data. Such
data are used to design reproductive health programmes, assess
existing capacity and monitor services. In an emergency situation,
the objectives and the indicators used to measure progress can
be simple but effective in determining what actions should be taken
next.
Relationships forged under crisis conditions are part of an ever-expanding
network of UNFPA partnerships. Ultimately, when calm returns, these
partnerships will contribute to stronger reproductive health services
in the future.
To facilitate a quick and coordinated response, UNFPA has:
-
Signed
partnership agreements with UN agencies and NGOs active in the
field
-
Participated as a founding member in the Inter-Agency Working
Group for Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations
-
Helped produce
Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations:
An Inter-Agency Field Manual
-
Established the Humanitarian
Response Group within UNFPA to coordinate the Fund’s
humanitarian interventions and partnerships with governments,
UN organizations
and NGOs
-
Organized events and workshops, such as the Workshop
on HIV, Conflict and Emergencies held in New York in April 2002
-
Actively participated as a member of the UNAIDS Steering Committee
on HIV and Security, working with partners to ensure HIV awareness
and prevention in peacekeeping operations, among uniformed services,
and for civilians in conflict situations
-
Worked with partners
to document, analyse and develop practical programme guidance
to deal with the special problems of women
in conflict situations
UNFPA supports training to enhance the knowledge, skills and attitudes
needed to protect reproductive health in emergencies. Training
improves the emergency response, raises awareness of the need to
protect reproductive health in crisis situations, and in the long
run adds to the number of trained health workers and educators
who will continue to apply their training once normalcy returns.
In many cases, those who receive training will then train others,
multiplying the positive impact.
UNFPA supports training through workshops, courses and materials
designed for distinct audiences:
-
UNFPA staff, to institutionalize the emergency response
-
Partners
in UN organizations, NGOs and governments, to recognize reproductive
health needs in emergencies and coordinate a humanitarian
response
-
Health workers, to provide higher quality reproductive
health services to refugees and displaced persons
-
International
and national programme planners, to assess needs, plan and
carry out projects, and monitor and evaluate progress.
All refugees and displaced persons have a right to reproductive
health, which must be an integrated component of the services provided
in a crisis. UNFPA’s advocacy efforts increase awareness
of the need to protect reproductive health in emergencies, and
have led to increased support by governments, UN agencies and international
NGOs for making reproductive health a higher priority in national
policies, laws and humanitarian assistance programmes.
UNFPA conducts advocacy work through a variety of channels, including:
- Meetings and conferences
- Training workshops
- Curriculum development
- Information, education and communication
activities
Advocacy not only helps consolidate support for reproductive health
in emergencies; it also increases understanding of issues such
as violence against women, the importance of men’s access
to information and services, and the need for increased international
recognition and financial support for emergency reproductive health
interventions.
 Back to top
|
HOME:
POPULATION
ISSUES: ASSISTING
IN EMERGENCIES: How UNFPA Takes
Action
