The humanitarian crisis in Ukraine continues to escalate as the war enters its fourth year, with ongoing hostilities driving displacement and straining essential services. An estimated 16.8 million people require humanitarian assistance, including 4 million women of reproductive age and 2.6 million young people. Attacks on healthcare infrastructure, power outages, and the economic downturn are compounding vulnerabilities, making access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and gender-based violence (GBV) protection even more critical. Nearly 6.8 million Ukrainians remain displaced, both within the country and across neighboring European nations, increasing the demand for emergency response efforts.
UNFPA is at the forefront of providing life-saving support, ensuring access to essential SRH services, strengthening maternal and neonatal care, and expanding GBV prevention and response efforts. This includes equipping hospitals with critical medical supplies, training healthcare providers, and improving access to reproductive healthcare in conflict-affected areas. To enhance protection for women and girls, UNFPA is expanding safe spaces, deploying mobile teams, and working closely with local and national partners to strengthen GBV response services. In neighboring countries, UNFPA is supporting refugee women with healthcare coverage, launching digital tools for GBV survivors, and scaling up awareness campaigns to ensure access to protection and support.
Despite these efforts, a critical funding gap remains, limiting UNFPA’s ability to sustain and scale up essential services. In 2024, UNFPA secured US$73.7 million of the $105 million needed, leaving a $31.3 million shortfall that affected the full implementation of planned interventions. For 2025, UNFPA has launched a $ 94.4 million appeal to continue delivering life-saving SRH and GBV services across Ukraine and the region, with only 39 per cent of the required funds secured to date. Continued investment from donors and partners is crucial to ensure that women and girls in crisis-affected areas receive the support and protection they urgently need.
