Midwives on the frontlines of the world’s most dangerous conflicts remain resilient and determined to help women and girls access critical care. In Somalia, they stand as pillars of strength and compassion in communities impacted by hunger, violence, and displacement.

Maryama has been a midwife for over 10 years in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Maryama chose to become a midwife after witnessing women in her family with critical health issues suffer because they didn’t have proper care.

"I found a young mother in critical condition with her first pregnancy at the camp. I didn't have a full delivery kit, and the mother needed an urgent cut to save her life. It was a very difficult situation for me. It was my first time facing such a situation — I had no choice but to use a razor, something I had never used before, to save the mother and child. And I succeeded."

Maryama’s story is a testament to the courage, skill, and unwavering dedication of midwives, ensuring safe and successful deliveries in crisis zones. From conflict to natural disasters, midwives are not just healthcare providers — they are lifelines. But their lifesaving work is in jeopardy without gifts from supporters like you.

We need to train and deploy more midwives like Maryama in Somalia to ensure safe births and the survival of both mothers and newborns. Please rush a gift to help bring more midwives to Somalia and to pregnant women fighting for survival across the globe.

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Somalia has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world, and the current crisis is putting additional strain on an already weakened health system. Without trained midwives, health services, and facilities, more and more mothers and newborns will lose their lives.

You have more power than you may realize. A gift you make can provide crucial reproductive health services, including emergency obstetric and newborn care; create safe spaces where women and girls can feel a sense of safety, especially for survivors of violence; and provide newly displaced women and girls with UNFPA Dignity Kits, which contain essential hygiene items.

The lives of vulnerable women and newborns in Somalia and crisis-stricken regions around the world depend on compassionate supporters like you. If you can, please find it in your heart to make a lifesaving gift today.

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— USA for UNFPA