Addressing Young People’s SRH Needs in Humanitarian Settings

Natural and human-made disasters, such as wars and pandemics, can exacerbate existing health issues and create new ones. In the Philippines, for example, the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in teen pregnancy rates, while in Rwanda, refugee camps have a high percentage of young people living in crisis settings. The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed additional challenges due to school closures and limited social interaction, leading to an increase in mental health issues among adolescents. In India, internal displacement due to COVID-19 lockdowns has had negative implications for young people and adolescents. In the Central Africa region, displacement due to wars has resulted in a high number of refugee camps, where young people face urgent SRH needs. Barriers to the provision of SRH services to young people in crisis settings include the lack of facilities in refugee camps, limited access to free condoms, and restrictive policies that limit minors' access to SRH services. In the Philippines, a reproductive health law limits minors' access to SRH services, further exacerbating the negative effects of such policies during humanitarian crises. To address these challenges, it is essential to incorporate young people into the design of SRH programming. This can be achieved by anticipating crisis situations and engaging young people from the early stages, using existing platforms, and leveraging the work of civil society organizations and NGOs. Adolescent engagement is a necessity at every level of SRH programming, including planning, naming, development of services, and the monitoring process. Meaningful youth engagement involves treating young people as partners rather than beneficiaries, giving them a platform to speak about how they envision a well-run program, and providing them with a space to reach out to other young people. Examples of SRH programs that have been responsive to young people's needs include those that have been flexible and quickly adapted to the needs of adolescents, used digital platforms to provide health education and counseling, and involved young people in the planning and implementation of services. In crisis settings, it is essential to provide SRH services that are accessible, acceptable, and of high quality. This can be achieved by providing youth-friendly services, using familiar language, and involving young people in the design and implementation of programs. By doing so, we can ensure that young people's SRH needs are met in humanitarian settings, and they are empowered to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.