Yangon, MYANMAR / Bangkok, THAILAND, 20 December 2023 – During conflicts, women and girls bear the brunt with increased risk of gender-based violence and loss of access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health supplies and services. In Myanmar, 9.2 million women and girls are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, and over the last three years more than 2 million people have been internally displaced, of which more than half are women and girls.

UNFPA, the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency, is on the ground in Myanmar working closely with UN agencies and partners to ensure women and girls continue to receive life-saving services, including psychosocial support to survivors of gender-based violence. 

“I recognize the selfless dedication and commitment of our staff and partners on the ground in Myanmar, working under extremely challenging circumstances. Our work is saving lives, and together, despite the challenges, we can and will stay and deliver for the women and girls of Myanmar to ensure their health, protection, and dignity is upheld at all times”, said UNFPA Regional Director for Asia-Pacific, Mr. Pio Smith, concluding a three-day visit to Myanmar, during which he met with UNFPA personnel, partners, donors, civil society, and youth organizations.

During his visit, Mr. Smith noted the operational challenges that UNFPA and its partners face in effectively and efficiently delivering life-saving services to women and girls within the current political context in Myanmar.

As part of his visit, Mr. Smith also met with authorities in Nay Pyi Taw where he discussed the impending operational challenges, and stressed on the urgent need for visas to be issued to UNFPA staff and for UNFPA and its partners to be granted travel authorization to the affected areas across the country to ensure continued and undisrupted delivery of life-saving services to women and girls in Myanmar.

During the discussions, Mr. Smith reaffirmed UNFPA’s stance on the 2024 census, noting the UN agency’s inability to support the census given the current political and conflict context in Myanmar, a decision rooted in UNFPA's commitment to ensuring data collection is transparent, neutral, and respectful of human rights.

UNFPA's dedication to supporting the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in Myanmar remains unwavering, noted Mr. Smith, reaffirming UNFPA’s continued commitment to stay and deliver. This pledge reflects the enduring mission to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fully realized, at all times, especially in challenging environments.

For more information:

Randima Jayasinghe, Communications & Resource Mobilization Specialist, UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office, jjayasinghe@unfpa.org / +66 0659849482.