Ensuring care for internally displaced people

Ley Uwera for Ipas

Democratic Republic of Congo

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Decades of armed conflict, economic unrest and public health crises have left nearly 20 million people in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in need of humanitarian assistance. More than 5 million people are internally displaced and there is widespread sexual violence against women and girls. Ipas DRC, in partnership with community-based organizations, is working to ensure that reproductive health care—including abortion and contraception—is available to women and girls affected by these crises.

Photography by Ley Uwera for Ipas

There are many acts of sexual violence reported during humanitarian crises. In such settings, it’s a matter of reproductive and social justice to make abortion information and services available to all who need them.’
Dr. Jean-Claude Mulunda, director of Ipas DRC

It’s often said that the provision of abortion in crisis settings is not logistically possible or effective, but that is not the case, says Dr. Jean-Claude Mulunda, director of Ipas DRC. “When the right information and services are made available, women and girls in such settings can absolutely have safe abortion care.”

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Ipas gratefully acknowledges the support of Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development in the collection of these stories.

Every crisis is different. Our varied solutions recognize that.

Through a variety of different programs and approaches, we’re proving that reproductive health care can be made accessible during an acute crisis and in the years that follow.

Bangladesh

Training health workers in Rohingya refugee camps

Bolivia

Providing health information and care to Venezuelan migrants

Ethiopia

Partnering with community groups and health workers during civil war

Kenya

Partnering with refugees to protect against COVID and ensure health-care access

Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia

Coordinating a response after cyclones and flooding

Myanmar

Reaching people through the private sector when public health systems shut down

About Us

We work with partners around the world to advance reproductive justice by expanding access to abortion and contraception.

Ipas Sustainable Abortion Care

Our Work

The global movement for legal, accessible abortion is growing. Our staff and partners in countries as diverse as Bolivia, Malawi and India are working to ensure all people can access high-quality abortion care.

Where We Work

The global movement for legal, accessible abortion is growing. Our staff and partners in countries as diverse as Bolivia, Malawi and India are working to ensure all people can access high-quality abortion care.

Resources

Our materials are designed to help reproductive health advocates and professionals expand access to high-quality abortion care.

For health professionals

For advocates and decisionmakers

Training
resources

For humanitarian settings

Abortion VCAT resources

For researchers and program implementors