UNFPA appeals for $ 10.7 m to meet urgent needs of 2 m women, girls affected by economic crisis

• Published date: 09 August 2022
• Publication title: Daily Financial Times

UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, has launched an appeal for $ 10.7 million to deliver lifesaving healthcare to more than two million women and girls in Sri Lanka in the next six months.

Sri Lanka is experiencing its worst socio-economic crisis since independence. The country's once robust healthcare system is teetering on the edge of collapse amid debilitating power shortages and a lack of critical supplies, equipment and medicine.

This is severely impacting the delivery of sexual and reproductive health services, including maternal health care and access to contraception.

Existing protection mechanisms for women and girls in need, including survivors of gender-based violence, have also been severely compromised. A UN survey in May 2022 indicates women and girls' vulnerability to violence is increasing at the same time as services, including health, police, shelter and hotlines, are declining due to...