New York, September 27, 2024, Advisor to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah has participated in a panel discussion on "Addressing the Intersection of Conflict, Displacement, Refugees, and Women's Health", held on the sidelines of the 79th session of UN General Assembly in New York.
Organized by KSrelief, the event highlighted the critical need to address the specific health needs of women and girls, particularly during emergencies. Al Rabeeah emphasized that conflicts, disasters, or other crises can severely disrupt access to basic services, leading to increased risks of maternal and infant mortality.
He stressed the importance of providing specialized services in challenging situations to protect the safety and health of affected populations, emphasizing that doing so is a crucial step towards achieving the third Sustainable Development Goal of "good health and well-being."
Citing UN estimates, Al Rabeeah noted that one woman dies every two minutes during pregnancy or childbirth. Globally, maternal deaths are estimated at around 287,000 cases in 2020, with 95% occurring in the poorest regions of the world and in countries affected by conflicts.
According to Al Rabeeah, KSrelief has undertaken extensive efforts to address reproductive health needs globally. Through partnerships with governments, UN agencies, international organizations, and local communities, the center has implemented projects valued at over $100 million that focus on providing essential reproductive health services to pregnant women, girls, and children in vulnerable regions.
The center has expanded its reach to remote and isolated areas through mobile teams, particularly in countries affected by conflicts, poverty, natural disasters, epidemics, and other challenging circumstances.
Al Rabeeah said that the situation of women in the Gaza Strip is dire, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict and blockade. Restricted movement, limited access to healthcare, and attacks on infrastructure have severely curtailed women's ability to access essential medical services, particularly those related to reproductive health.
The event was held in partnership with the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Fund, the UN Refugee Agency, the International Organization for Migration, and the International Medical Corps.
