Countries in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region are vulnerable to humanitarian emergencies sparked by conflict both within the region itself and in neighbouring countries, and to those created by natural disasters. The largest-scale emergency currently affecting the region is the refugee crisis created by the on-going violence in Syria, which has driven more than 4 million people out of that country.
The surfeit of crisis and upheaval around the world today demands better economic and social development, better humanitarian action, better risk management, better attention to prevention, preparedness and resilience, and better connections among all of these. It is crucial for governments across this vast region to urgently get their preparedness systems up to speed, so that lives do not end up at even greater risk, with the most basic needs left unmet.
Related links:
Global report (with synopsis): The State of World Population 2015, Shelter from the Storm: A transformative agenda for women and girls in a crisis-prone world
Regional feature story: When time won't wait: Meeting basic health needs for pregnant women on the move
