2,000 girls and women each year are left with the condition

MAHAJANGA, Madagascar — Every day, 10 women die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth in Madagascar.

Many more survive, but suffer from untreated complications of pregnancy, including the most debilitating injury of childbearing, obstetric fistulas. Although the condition was not recognized in the country until recently, it is estimated that 2,000 Malagasy women develop fistula each year.

Zafisoa's story

UNFPA Head Appeals to the International Community to Step Up Assistance to Those Displaced by Syrian Conflict

There are currently 6.8 million people in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including 4.25 million who are internally displaced.

Among the most affected public infrastructures are health facilities, with 36 per cent of public hospitals totally damaged and 21 per cent partially operational. As 78 per cent of public ambulances have been damaged, the referral system for medical emergencies has also broken down.

BANGUI, Central African Republic — Fierce fighting between rebel troops and Central African armed forces beginning in March has left widespread insecurity in the country. Cases of collective sexual violence and massive looting of public offices, housing and health facilities were reported, resulting in a massive internal displacement of populations and a drastic shortage of essential medicines, medical equipment and supplies in health centres meant to welcome and provide care to many victims of this crisis.

"Usually women don't or can't go to a health facility during pregnancy and delivery, they marry too young and or suffer malnutrition, such issues cause complications in pregnancy and delivery and result in a prolonged labor which ultimately causes fistula", Said Dr. Mohammad Tahir Ghaznavi, UNFPA National Program Officer for Fistula in Afghanistan.

AMMAN—The international community should urgently increase its support to refugees and displaced persons fleeing the Syrian crisis, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, said, following visits to Syrian refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan.

“It is heartening to see the open-door policy of Syria’s neighbouring countries,” said Dr. Osotimehin. “But we are concerned that, with the number of refugees steadily increasing, the economies of host countries will be affected. The international community will need to step up.”

Press Release

Myanmar Tests Procedures for Its 2014 Census

Teachers Visit Homes, Interview Families; Observers Monitor the Process

YANGON, Myanmar, 12 April 2013 --- The Myanmar Government with support from UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, undertook a pilot census exercise from 30 March to 10 April to prepare for a nationwide census in 2014, the country’s first in 30 years.

UNITED NATIONS, Istanbul/Amman/New York — Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, will be visiting refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan to underscore the urgent needs of women and youth affected by the crisis in Syria.

As the conflict in Syria escalates, the UNFPA country office in Syria has launched a $12 million humanitarian response effort from January to June 2013 that targets women of child bearing age, including pregnant women and 50,000 young people, both girls and boys.

Out of the 4 million people who are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance within Syria, it is estimated that 1 million are women of reproductive age. 250,000 of these women are estimated to be pregnant.

Ramallah. 6 March 2013. “Together We Stand”… a project to empower youth in Palestine will be launched in March 2013 with generous financial support of US$ 707,000 by the Government of Japan to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).