3 February 2026
BACKGROÄ¢¹½ÊÓÆµD AND RATIONALE
Sexual and reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system. It implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life, the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when, and how often to do so. To maintain one¡¯s sexual and reproductive health, people need access to accurate information and safe, effective, affordable and acceptable contraception methods of their choice, and when they decide to have children. Women must have access to skilled health care providers and services that can help them have a fit pregnancy, safe birth and healthy baby. Every individual has the right to make their own choices about their sexual and reproductive health, and must be informed and empowered to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections.
An emergency is a situation that poses an immediate risk to life, health, property, or the environment that requires a coordinated response. Sexual and reproductive health rights in emergencies refers to the protection and fulfillment of SRH needs when normal systems are disrupted, and ensuring integration of SRH care in humanitarian responses. In these settings, women, girls, and other vulnerable groups face increased risks of unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion, maternal mortality and morbidity, HIV and other STIs, and sexual and gender-based violence. Access to antenatal care, skilled birth attendants, contraception, and protection services is often interrupted when it is most needed. Ensuring the availability of essential sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (SRMNCH) services in crises is therefore critical to safeguarding health, dignity, and rights, and to preventing avoidable illness and mortality.
The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Program of Action and multiple global frameworks and guidelines enshrine the right to SRH information and services in humanitarian settings. The accessibility to and provision of SRHR services, including maternal health care and gender-based violence (GBV) related services, are central to health, rights and well-being of women and girls. The diversion of attention and critical resources away from these provisions may result in exacerbated maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. In general, pregnant women are more vulnerable to experience serious complications during emergencies and must be treated with utmost priority.
Preparing to provide comprehensive, high-quality SRH services in an emergent humanitarian setting requires a multi-sectoral and integrated approach to reach women and girls, particularly survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). FP2030 Strategy considers governments engagement in emergency preparedness for SRH to strengthen the health systems and improve the delivery of the lifesaving priority services of the MISP for SRH. The Ministry of Health upon coordination and cooperation with a wide range of partners and service providers should ensure overcoming any SRH barriers during emergencies and work toward the goal of universal access to SRHR, including family planning. The MISP for SRH in crises outlines the life-saving SRH care to be provided and maintained at the outset of a crisis. It is a set of priority activities to be implemented from the onset of a humanitarian crisis (conflict or natural disaster or any other type of emergency), and further scaled up and sustained to ensure equitable coverage throughout protracted crisis and recovery while planning is undertaken to implement comprehensive SRH as soon as possible (for details of MISP, please refer to the definition of terms at page 5).
The SRMNHH action plan; emergency preparedness and response (EPR) will build on the experiences of preparing for, building resilience to, responding to and recovering from a range of hazards that Palestinians endure and face from the ongoing Israeli conflict, the arbitrary practices imposed such as the separation wall and military check points and natural disasters including pandemics and lockdowns that hinder access to health care services. This Plan is initiated by the MoH, updated and costed by an external consultant, supported and funded by the United Nations Population Fund (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµFPA) through the AFD joint project in partnership with WHO and Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµICEF.
Document Type: Plan of action, Report
Document Sources: United Nations Population Fund (Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµFPA)
Subject: Assistance, Gender, Gender-based violence, Health, West Bank, Women, sexual violence
Publication Date: 03/02/2026
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