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21st April 2026 - IPPF and its Member Association in Palestine (PFPPA) are pleased to announce the launch of a new project financed by the Government of Japan, "Provision of health and medical services for women and children affected by crisis in the West Bank." This project will deliver life-saving maternal healthcare, psychosocial support, and sexual and reproductive health services, in even the hardest-to-reach areas of the West Bank, Palestine, through health centres, mobile medical teams, tele-consultations, and community outreach.  The destruction of health facilities, severe restrictions on movement, and raids and attacks on communities in the West Bank have left Palestinians with little to no access to healthcare. According to the UNFPA, over 230,000 women and girls experience difficulties in accessing reproductive health services.  Key project activities will include:Maintaining essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, through three static clinics in Khalil, Halhoul and Bethlehem in the West Bank. These clinics will offer services including family planning, obstetrics and gynaecology care and management of sexually transmitted infections, for over 22,000 women and children. This will include specialised support for an estimated 2,300 survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, who will receive medical care, counselling or referrals.  Providing maternal and child health care services for 4,600 women and children in hard-to-reach and marginalised areas of the West Bank via a mobile team of doctors, midwives, paediatricians, social workers, pharmacists and lab technicians. The mobile team will also provide psychosocial support services, support for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and family planning services.  Providing counselling and consultation services via telecommunications and digital channels for those unable to access clinics.Conducting five ‘preparing for birth’ sessions for 90 first time mothers, providing information and support on maternal care and options for labour and delivery.  Mr. ARAIKE Katsuhiko, Ambassador of Japan for the Palestinian Affairs says:  “As a flagbearer of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, we hope that our new collaboration with IPPF facilitates Palestinian women and children, who are affected by conflicts and live outside service catchment areas, to enjoy Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBGYN) and family planning services, improved well-being, and social participation.  This project is part of Japan’s 2026–2027 cooperation package for Palestine. Japan will continue to provide support for the stability and prosperity of Palestine.”  Dr. Fadoua Bakhadda, Regional Director of the IPPF Arab World Regional Office adds: “Thanks to the support of the people of Japan, we can continue delivering essential maternal and child health services to communities that have been systematically cut off from care, helping to prevent avoidable maternal and newborn deaths in the West Bank, Palestine.” -- About International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Arab World Office  IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952. Today, we are a movement of over 120 autonomous member associations and 23 collaborative partners with a presence in 146 countries. Established in 1971, the IPPF Arab World Region (IPPF AWR) is one of IPPF’s six regional offices. Based in Tunis, it is the leading Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) service delivery organization in the North Africa and the Middle East, and the leading Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) advocacy voice in the region. 

16th April 2026 - A new project titled Strengthening Life-saving Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Services for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), has been launched in Sudan. Funded by the Government of Japan and implemented by the IPPF Member Association Sudan Family Planning Association (SFPA), the project will support women and girls in crisis in the Red Sea and Khartoum States.  Fifteen million people in Sudan have been displaced by the civil war, and conflicts in neighbouring countries have triggered an influx of returnees and displaced people into Sudan. As a result, the country now hosts 15% of the world’s IDPs. But widespread destruction of infrastructure and deadly disease outbreaks have left the healthcare system unable to cope.An estimated 1.75 million women and girls require urgent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, including 270,000 internally displaced pregnant women. With rape increasingly used as a weapon of war, many require urgent medical and psychosocial support. However, essential SRH commodities, including contraceptives, emergency obstetric kits, and menstrual hygiene products, are in critically low supply.  SFPA provides essential sexual and reproductive health services to women and girls, including internally displaced persons, through 26 static clinics and 11 mobile clinics across the country. This new funding will enable them to procure, transport and distribute essential supplies to two of the organisation’s static clinics in the Red Sea State and Khartoum State. This vital equipment, including microscopes, blood-testing devices, thermometers, and examination lamps, will enable these clinics to continue providing SRH services, expanding their reach to an additional 2,400 internally displaced people and individuals in host communities. Mr. Nakahara Takanobu, the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Japan to Sudan, stated that, “The provision of sexual and reproductive healthcare for women and girls is a critical step in supporting this vulnerable category in Sudan. This is more so when they are IDPs. Thus, we are happy to be able to support IPPF’s Member Association in Sudan - the Sudan Family Planning Association - in this domain, so that we can contribute to improving the safety and well-being of these women and girls, and reassure them that we acknowledge the challenges they face and endure.” Dr Hiba Ahmed Khalil, Emergency and Humanitarian Interventions Manager at SFPA added, “SFPA is honoured to join the Japan Supplementary Budget 2025 project, advancing inclusive health and humanitarian responses that strengthen access to essential services and uphold the rights of communities most at risk. Together, we are building pathways for resilience and equity.”  Dr. Fadoua Bakhadda, Regional Director of the IPPF Arab World Regional Office, added, “Every woman and girl deserves access to safe, reliable healthcare, no matter the circumstances. Thanks to the people of Japan, we can equip clinics with the essential tools and supplies needed to continue providing critical sexual and reproductive healthcare. This investment will directly improve the safety, health, and resilience of thousands of internally displaced women and girls.” ---About the Sudan Family Planning Association  The Sudan Family Planning Association (SFPA) was established in 1965 by pioneers in obstetrics and gynaecology in response to increases in maternal, neonatal and infant mortality and morbidity. As the statistics show, Sudan is a country in great need of frontline sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Advocacy, and undertaking information, education and communication (IEC) programs are critical.About International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Arab World Office  IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952. Today, we are a movement of over 120 autonomous member associations and 23 collaborative partners with a presence in 146 countries. Established in 1971, the IPPF Arab World Region (IPPF AWR) is one of IPPF’s six regional offices. Based in Tunis, it is the leading Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) service delivery organization in North Africa and the Middle East, and the leading Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) advocacy voice in the region.