Support for reproductive health needs, survivor-centred care bolstered by new commitment from Government of Japan

Although Iraq has moved into a phase of reconstruction and resilience, the need for humanitarian assistance persists.

UNFPA is supporting a wide range of services for internally displaced people, returnees and refugees. These services include emergency obstetric care, newborn care, responses to gender-based violence and psychosocial assistance. \

To sustain the provision of these critical services across Iraq, the Government of Japan has committed $1,339,285. These funds will increase access to reproductive health services across Iraq, and will also improve access to newborn care services. 

The funding will also go towards providing survivor-centred case management and psychosocial assistance to gender-based violence survivors at UNFPA-supported women centres. The commitment will additionally support capacity-building for service providers and community outreach on the prevention of gender-based violence.

“A timely intervention is critical for preventing maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity,” said Dr Oluremi Sogunro, UNFPA’s Representative in Iraq. “This new funding will enable UNFPA to provide timely and quality response to the reproductive health needs and gender-based violence-related issues in six governorates across Iraq.”

Japan has been a key partner to UNFPA in Iraq, contributing more than $10 million over four years in support of the Fund’s interventions and services. These efforts are part of even broader assistance the Government has provided to those affected by the humanitarian emergency. 

“With this package, the total amount of Japan’s assistance to the people affected by the crisis reaches $500 million,” said Naofumi Hashimoto, Ambassador of Japan to the Republic of Iraq.   

The support is critically important to UNFPA’s humanitarian assistance, which remains in need of funding. As of 1 February, UNFPA had received 29 per cent of the funds required for its humanitarian interventions in Iraq for 2019 – some $6.4 million out of the $22 million, which is needed to reach 700,000 individuals with reproductive health services and 400,000 persons with the gender-based violence responses.