Globally, in the past 10 years, aid workers have come under increasing fire as they strive to provide assistance and support to individuals and communities affected by crisis. In Bosnia and Herzegovina aid workers played an important role in the war and post-war periods.
Since January, UNFPA has responded to multiple emergencies including the devastating earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, conflict in Kyrgyzstan and floods in West Africa and Pakistan. As humanitarian crises can happen anytime anywhere we encourage relevant institutions at all levels to have emergency preparedness plans in place across Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As women continue to get pregnant and give birth during these crises, we work to provide reproductive health services because no woman should die giving life. Together with partners, UNFPA works to ensure safe motherhood, prevent HIV infection and prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
“Caring for maternal health in emergency situations should not be forgotten”, adds Mr. Faris Hadrovic, UNFPA BiH Assistant Representative.
Protecting the right to sexual and reproductive health is fundamental to human security and to humanitarian and development assistance. Just as good humanitarian work paves the way for recovery and stability, good development work builds strong communities, infrastructure and institutions to build resilience and ease the impact of crisis when it occurs.
Today, we call for increased protection and respect for humanitarian aid workers. We also urge closer cooperation between the humanitarian and development communities to promote human security and dignity in all phases of preparedness, crisis, response, transition and recovery.
