One year on from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, warns of the war’s continuing devastating impacts on women and girls. These make up more than 60 percent of the refugees in Moldova. According to UNFPA, attacks on hospitals, roads and energy infrastructure have caused widespread blackouts and disrupted basic services in Ukraine. Around 195,000 babies were born in Ukraine in 2022 amid the chaos of war. Many expectant mothers have been forced to give birth in basements and bomb shelters in dire conditions. For thousands of pregnant women without access to essential services, childbirth is now fraught with added danger, IPN reports.
Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director, said every woman and girl must have access to sexual and reproductive health and protection services. These are not peacetime luxuries; they are essential and save lives. “Ukrainian women and girls have shown remarkable resilience. UNFPA’s priority remains ensuring that they can access the critical services and support they need; this is especially critical for pregnant women and survivors of sexual and other forms of violence,” stated Natalia Kanem.
UNFPA is working with partners to deliver reproductive health services, across Ukraine including in areas close to the front lines as well as in neighboring countries. Over a third of all births in Ukraine in 2022 – some 68,500 – were delivered at one of the 51 maternity facilities supported by UNFPA.
The war, and the mass displacement it has caused, has increased women and girls’ risks of violence – including sexual violence – exploitation and abuse. In response, more than 120,000 people have received gender-based violence assistance and referrals through UNFPA-supported protection services in Ukraine over the last year.
In 2023, UNFPA is seeking $99 million to provide life-saving reproductive health and protection services in Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and other neighboring refugee-hosting countries and calls on governments and donors to sustain and increase funding.
Nigina Abaszade, UNFPA Representative in the Republic of Moldova, said that UNFPA is on the ground to ensure the refugee women and girls are treated with dignity and will continue to invest in strengthening reproductive health and protection systems for refugees and Moldovans alike.
Over the past year, almost one third of the population of Ukraine or about 14 million people were forced to leave their homes. According to UNFPA, already some 10 million people are at risk of mental disorders such as acute stress, anxiety, depression, substance use and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
