When the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, millions of people watched their homes and communities crumble. 55-year-old Than escaped with her life, but she could do nothing as her neighborhood collapsed into chaos. In the days that followed, access to essentials like clean water, electricity, and healthcare was scarce for the millions affected by the quake. In Than’s case, every single health facility nearby was damaged or destroyed. If she or a loved one had a medical emergency, there was nowhere to turn—until a UNFPA mobile clinic arrived to provide emergency care. “The medical team treated us with such warmth and care, particularly women and girls who were traumatized by the disaster,” Than told us. “For the first time since the earthquake, I finally felt safe again.” Thanks to the support of this community, we’ve been able to deploy mobile and floating health clinics to reach women like Than across Myanmar, and begin distributing 50,000 Dignity Kits filled with essential menstrual products. (fb)

Toward the end of February, the U.S. government terminated all funding for UNFPA (the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency). In the weeks since, our programs have already begun to stall. Recently, New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof visited one area affected by these cuts—a UNFPA maternity clinic in South Sudan. Before the clinic opened, there was no healthcare available in the region, and mothers and babies died regularly during childbirth. But since the clinic opened with a trained midwife, not a single mother or baby has died. The clinic is so effective that Abuk, an 18-year-old who is currently eight months pregnant with her first child, told Kristof she was excited to give birth there, where it is safer. But unless she goes into labor early, she will not have that option—the clinic is scheduled to close this month due to the funding cuts. Read the full New York Times article: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/15/opinion/foreign-aid-cuts-impact.html?unlocked_article_code=1.4E4.5pnR.W3Ygu68j4W-g&smid=url-share (fb)