The frontlines of Maternal Care: Protecting Women and Newborns in Conflict Zones
The delivery room should be a sanctuary, a place of hope and new life.Tragically, for countless women in Ukraine and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), it’s become another casualty of war. Recent escalations in both conflicts are systematically dismantling healthcare infrastructure, leaving pregnant women and newborns facing unimaginable risks. This article examines the devastating impact of conflict on maternal health, the brave efforts to provide care, and the urgent need for increased support.
Ukraine: A Pediatric Hospital Under Attack & Rising Healthcare Casualties
On July 8, 2024, Ukraine’s largest pediatric health center, okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital in Kyiv, was struck in a devastating missile attack. This incident underscores a chilling trend. Since January 2025, the World Health Association (WHO) has documented over 300 attacks targeting healthcare facilities, personnel, and services across Ukraine.
These attacks aren’t just about buildings; they directly threaten the lives of mothers and their children. Women are often forced to seek shelter and give birth in increasingly dangerous environments.
The challenges ukrainian women face are immense:
Limited access to Specialized Care: regions like Donetsk lack crucial neonatal intensive care units, leaving mothers vulnerable during elaborate deliveries.
Constant Threat of Bombing: Cities like Kharkiv, regularly subjected to shelling and drone strikes, force expectant mothers to travel long distances for even basic care.
Psychological Trauma: The constant stress and fear take a heavy toll on mental wellbeing,impacting both mother and child.
“I was afraid to give birth, but life goes on. We want to live too,” shares Anastasiia, a resident of the frontline Donetsk region. Her story exemplifies the resilience and determination of Ukrainian women, even amidst unimaginable hardship. However, resilience alone isn’t enough.
The healthcare workers responding to these crises are also at risk. Roman, a member of a UNFPA mobile psychosocial support team in Dnipro, describes a delayed emotional response to the trauma they witness. “It’s like our own reactions are on hold,” he explains. “Only later…do we realize how challenging it actually was.”
DRC: A Collapsing Maternal Healthcare System
The situation in the eastern DRC is equally dire, though often less visible. Years of conflict have decimated the region’s healthcare infrastructure. Most facilities providing maternal care have been bombed or looted,leaving communities with severely limited options.
Here’s a stark look at the reality:
Only one-third of hospitals remain functional.
A mere one in five health centers are still operational.
UNFPA mobile health teams are frequently the only source of care available to women.
Francine Toyata, displaced as February 2023, vividly recalls her perilous journey through “darkness and chaos” to reach a UNFPA-supported mobile clinic in North Kivu province. Her midwife, Nelly, emphasizes the profound impact of their work: “It is for women like Francine that we do this work.”
However, even these mobile clinics are increasingly under threat.Escalating conflict has led to bombings of internally displaced person camps, and the looting and destruction of vital health resources. Nelly’s plea is urgent: “We need more support to meet these urgent needs.”
Why This Matters & What You Can Do
The attacks on healthcare in both Ukraine and the DRC are violations of international humanitarian law. They represent a purposeful targeting of vulnerable populations and a systematic erosion of basic human rights.The consequences are far-reaching:
Increased Maternal and Newborn Mortality: Lack of access to skilled birth attendants and emergency obstetric care dramatically increases the risk of complications and death.
Long-term Health Impacts: Trauma experienced during pregnancy and childbirth can have lasting effects on both mother and child.
Cycle of Instability: Weakened healthcare systems exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and contribute to ongoing conflict.
How can you help?
Support Organizations on the Ground: Donate to reputable organizations like the WHO,UNFPA,and Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières.
Advocate for Political Action: Contact your elected officials and urge them to prioritize humanitarian aid and diplomatic efforts to end these conflicts.
Raise Awareness: Share this data with your
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