Fatima, like 74% of Afghanistan’s population, lives in a remote area with little access to prenatal care and maternal health services. This support is even harder for women to access because of the severe restrictions they live under.

She had successfully given birth at home three times before. But this time was different. When it became clear that Fatima was experiencing complications, her family called midwife Khadija to help.

Gifts from supporters like you have trained and equipped midwives like Khadija in Afghanistan and around the world. Your gift today will be 2X-matched to continue providing lifesaving care to women and girls. Will you support midwives today?

Lifesavers on the line: The medical staff of the Midwifery Help Line assisting calls from midwives working in remote areas of Afghanistan.

Khadija saw the size of Fatima’s belly and quickly realized she was carrying twins — a dangerous situation in any setting, but made even more precarious by the fact that Fatima hadn’t received any prenatal care.

Luckily, Khadija knew what to do. She called UNFPA’s midwifery hotline, and with the guidance of a UNFPA doctor, safely delivered Fatima’s babies, preventing a devastating tragedy.

"The Midwifery Helpline was a precious support for me. The doctor at the center walked me through managing the complications step by step," Khadija told us.

When you make a gift this holiday season, your support will be doubled to power lifesaving midwifery hotlines and deliver maternal health care in Afghanistan and around the world. Will you donate today to support pregnant women, new mothers, and newborns in crises across the globe?

Men carrying a pregnant woman through snow and ice to a health facility for care.

Fatima’s experience is not just a rare success — it’s a testament to the difference we can make with your support. But when temperatures drop, so do the chances for safe deliveries.

UNFPA Winter Dignity Kits are filled with essential supplies like warm blankets, clothing, and menstrual supplies and help women and girls survive the cold and maintain their dignity during this harsh season.

Already, we have reached 200,000 women and girls across Afghanistan with lifesaving care and essentials, including UNFPA Winter Dignity Kits. But there are pregnant women, new mothers, and newborns who still need care this holiday season.

Will you rush a 2X-matched gift before December 31 to ensure women and girls in Afghanistan and beyond receive Winter Dignity Kits and can stay warm this winter?

Thank you for being there for women and girls surviving this cold this holiday season.

— USA for UNFPA