The ongoing war disruptions in the Middle East are making it challenging for reproductive health supplies that can potentially save lives from reaching women and girls and putting them at an increased risk. UNFPA has noted that there is a significant risk of unsafe births, lack of treatment for survivors of sexual violence, and inadequate medical supplies to treat them due to the potential for delays in getting supplies to women.

Currently shipments of supplies moving from Asia, the Middle East and Africa are experiencing delays of up to one month. This includes essential health kits for safe delivery, contraception, and emergency care and supplies needed in hospitals. In addition, due to increased prices and disrupted shipping routes to these supplies, the situation has gotten worse.

These conditions could result in thousands of women not getting access to critical care; this could mean that women may have to give birth on their own without enough support, while health facilities have limited amounts of supplies but have been under increasing amounts of pressure.

UNFPA has been working towards finding alternate shipping routes and solutions; however, ongoing conflicts in the region continue to hinder the availability of these types of supplies. Without rapid assistance, this situation will only continue to deteriorate and put women and girls further at risk