More than 100,000 people fled to Armenia following renewed hostilities in the Karabakh region in September 2023. More than half of the refugees are reported to be women and girls.

Humanitarian crises take a heavy toll on women and girls, who are cut off from life-saving services, while risks of violence, sexual exploitation and abuse increase as support networks fold.

Access to basic and essential services, including reproductive and maternal health, psychosocial support, and services to prevent and respond to violence, are critical to ensuring that refugee women and girls get the care and support they need.

UNFPA continues to work with national and local authorities and partners to provide life-saving reproductive health care as well as dignity kits – containing essential hygiene items – for tens of thousands of women, girls and at-risk populations among refugee and host communities in Armenia. In addition, with UNFPA support, hundreds of health-care providers have increased capacity to provide psychological first aid and stress management.

As part of the UN Refugee Response Plan, UNFPA is appealing for US$4.5 million to strengthen and scale up reproductive health and protection services to meet the immediate needs of both refugees and host communities for a period of six months (October 2023 to March 2024).

Updated on 24 January 2024