Current Humanitarian Crisis

Syria Use of RH Vouchers in addressing reproductive Health Needs

inside Syria

Henia Dakkak- UNFPA

IAWG – Kuala Lumpur 2013

5,100,000 IDPs and around 480,000 Palestinian RefugeesAnd more than 1.6 million Refugees

Context Declaration of Level 3 Emergency by IASC in 15th of

January 2013 (complexity, severity, capacity, etc)

Syria Humanitarian Response Plan Appeal and Regional Refugee Response Appeal for funding reached 1.5 Billion in January 2013 Kuwait pledging conference

Neighboring Countries are affected (Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt and refugees are also are found in North Africa and Europe) – additional burden on their infrastructure, resources and systems

Cross Line conveys and Cross Borders operation by some NGOs

Humanitarian Needs are increasing Every day due to lack of political solution 6.8 Million People in need

of humanitarian assistance

Active Fighting hinder access to affected population

Health facilities are damaged

Severe shortages of Drugs and supplies

Many Health Providers have left the country

Many Health Providers are attacked and killed

Ambulances under attack

Access is a major challenge from inside and outside the country

Lack of Capacity in terms of national NGO community

International NGOs are not allowed to work without government approval

Price of living have gone up

Loss of livelihood

Displacement and loss of shelter and assets

Reproductive Health Needs

Noticeable Increase of Csection by 50%

Increase of GBV cases

Increased stress and anxiety among women and girls

Lack of protection for civilian and in particular women and children

Lack of sanitary pads for women and girls living in displacement

Routine antenatal checkups are decreasing

• Access is very a major hindering factor for reproductive Health service delivery

• Shortage of staff

• Due to Displacement there is a lack of information where to get services

• Supply chain is interrupted for reproductive health commodities

• Priority is given to wounded in health facilities

Introduction Vouchers to access Reproductive Health Services

The idea of vouchers is to address the issue of access by giving every pregnant woman or women and girls of reproductive voucher with the information where they can access services.

UNFPA pay for the services after we collect the vouchers from service providers or participating agencies

Services are provided through a network of national NGOs such as Syria Family Planning association, Syrian Red Crescents and range of hospitals and facilities (private and public wherever they exist)