A leading international health agency has called for $1.4 billion in emergency funding to address vital sexual and reproductive health needs for more than 45 million people in conflict and disaster zones worldwide. With a record 122.6 million people displaced over the past year, the appeal highlights the heightened risks women and girls face in humanitarian settings, including pregnancy complications and gender-based violence.
Displacement driven by war, climate shocks, and economic instability worsens access to essential health services and safe spaces. In 2025 alone, roughly 11 million pregnant women are expected to need urgent support, as many face life-threatening risks due to inadequate prenatal and childbirth care. Across emergencies, violence against women and girls spikes, yet funding for prevention and response remains chronically insufficient.
Past years show a persistent funding gap across 34 priority crisis countries, leaving countless women and girls without needed services. An executive director of the agency framed the appeal as a call to the international community to invest in the health and dignity of women and girls caught in crises, aiming to build a future free from fear and violence.
Despite these hurdles, the agency reported progress in 2024: it delivered reproductive health services to more than 10 million people in crisis settings and provided gender-based violence prevention and response support to 3.6 million individuals in 59 affected countries. Teams of midwives and medical professionals were mobilized, thousands of health facilities were equipped, and more than 1,600 safe spaces for women and girls were established, though demand still far outstrips resources.
The plan for 2025 centers on strengthening local and national health responses, improving emergency preparedness, and boosting humanitarian funding for local and women-led organizations—from 35 percent to 43 percent. It also aims to expand stock prepositioning in regional hubs to ensure rapid response when crises erupt.
For Thailand and Southeast Asia, recurring natural disasters, regional unrest, and refugee movements place ongoing pressure on health systems. Thailand has hosted people fleeing violence and collaborates with local authorities and NGOs to provide reproductive health and protection services along border areas. Data and insights from regional partners underscore the need for sustained investment in crisis response across the region.
Pregnant women in crisis settings face higher maternal mortality, unsafe abortions, and untreated childbirth complications. Along the Thailand-Myanmar border, international agencies support comprehensive reproductive health programs in camps and host communities, though funding volatility and political changes threaten continuity.
Global evidence shows that emergency health system collapse leads to setbacks in maternal and newborn health. A 2023 review in a major medical journal found crisis conditions raise preventable maternal and infant deaths by interrupting essential services and supplies. In Thailand, progress has been made thanks to universal health coverage and outreach, but humanitarian emergencies remain a risk to sustaining gains.
The appeal also highlights the rising threat of gender-based violence during crises. Experts emphasize that emergencies create an environment where perpetrators may act with impunity, while prevention and support resources are stretched thin. Thai health officials and NGOs acknowledge similar risks, especially in displacement and disaster contexts where social protections may weaken.
Community networks in Thailand—such as village health volunteers and women’s groups—demonstrate the potential to empower local actors. The 2025 plan stresses investing directly in local and women-led organizations to scale up swift, culturally appropriate responses. Increasing humanitarian funding for these groups to 43 percent is viewed as a crucial step toward more equitable interventions.
Looking ahead, a focus on stockpiling medical supplies—clean delivery kits, contraceptives, and post-rape care resources—could enable rapid outreach when disasters strike. Thai authorities are encouraged to consider regional collaboration, border health initiatives, and emergency preparedness planning to integrate these best practices for at-risk populations, particularly as climate change is projected to intensify disasters in Southeast Asia.
For policymakers, humanitarian responders, and civil society in Thailand, these trends underscore the need for sustained investment, robust contingency plans, and strong support networks to safeguard reproductive health rights in emergencies. Practical steps include elevating contributions to global humanitarian appeals, prioritizing women’s health in disaster response frameworks, and building partnerships with regional and international agencies for technical, material, and financial support.
What readers can do: support local NGOs working in refugee health and protection, volunteer with organizations serving vulnerable women and girls, and raise awareness about sexual and reproductive health rights during crises. The message from international health partners is clear: investing in women’s health strengthens resilience and builds inclusive, safer communities.