Humanitarians

During conflicts, natural disasters and public health emergencies, sexual and reproductive health needs are often overlooked – with staggering consequences. Pregnant women risk life-threatening complications without access to delivery and emergency obstetric care services. Women and girls may lose access to family planning services, exposing them to unintended pregnancy in perilous conditions. Women and girls also become more vulnerable to sexual violence, exploitation and HIV infection.

UNFPA is on the ground before, during and after crises, working closely with governments, local NGOs, UN agencies and other partners to ensure that sexual reproductive health and rights and responses to gender-based violence are integrated into emergency responses. Every day, UNFPA ships hundreds of hygiene supplies and reproductive health kits to crisis settings, providing core life-saving services. UNFPA also deploys trained personnel and provides other crucial support to affected populations, working to ensure the needs of women and girls are served through preparedness, emergency and reconstruction phases.

This collection of profiles celebrates some of the humanitarian heroes working in emergencies across Asia and the Pacific.

Safe birth in disasters
Hazera Akther Bangladesh	Dr Farhat Sahak Afghanistan	Nasrin Khatun Bangladesh
Sri Rezeki Guntari Indonesia	Prasansha Budha Lama Nepal
Youth engagment
Manisha Nepal	Fathema Sultana Bangladesh	Nur Arifina Vivinia Indonesia
Hasna Akter Sumi Bangladesh		Lizzie Molli Vanuatu
Mobile health
Dr. Sidra Ahmed Pakistan	Sister Mapoa Fiji	Shiva Sri Lanka
Gender-based violence
Sharika Cooray Sri Lanka	Rumana Khan Bangladesh	Lorah Etega Solomon Islands
Sittie Rajabia Monato Philippines
Marginalized groups
Dr Usha Vaidya India	Oldri Sherli Mukuan Indonesia	Nurlinawati Indonesia
Coordination
John Ryan Buenaventura Philippines	Elisabeth Sidabutar Indonesia	Allam Amin Indonesia
Menstrual Health
Kulsum Akter Bangladesh	Dr. Kanwal Ijaz Pakistan	Dr. Patrick Penitai Tonga

Learn more

Minimum Initial Service Package - The minimum, life-saving sexual and reproductive health needs that humanitarians must address at onset of an emergency

GBV Area of Responsibility brings together non-governmental organisations, UN agencies, academics and others under the shared objective of ensuring life-saving, predictable, accountable and effective GBV prevention, risk mitigation and response in emergencies, both natural disaster and conflict-related humanitarian contexts)

UNFPA in Emergencies

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs