Friend — Maryna was preparing for the birth of her second child when war broke out in Ukraine.
She delivered her baby in a specially equipped hospital hallway but was forced to spend the next few weeks – recovering from birth, learning how to breastfeed, bonding with her daughter – in a cold basement that had been converted into a bomb shelter.
Even in such a challenging situation, the family made do and Maryna remembers those moments as happy ones. “Our baby girl is the first girl in our big family, and we are grateful to be alive and healthy. It's a blessing to know organizations and individuals offer support during these difficult times,” she said.
But just two weeks later, it became too dangerous to stay. Maryna’s biggest fear was that a bomb would fall on their home. Her family made the decision to leave – and not a moment too late. Just one day later, the bridge out of the city was destroyed in an attack and it would have been impossible for the young family to leave.
Since the war broke out, UNFPA has supported maternity hospitals in Ukraine to meet the needs of pregnant women like Maryna, expand access to free and quality reproductive health services, and provide hospitals with essential supplies. In fact, in the last year, 1 in 3 births in Ukraine have been supported by UNFPA.
But today, UNFPA’s efforts are only 70% funded — meaning the lives of women and girls like Maryna’s and her daughters hang in the balance.
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