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Between siege and survival: The unheard struggles of mothers in the West Bank
Palestine, State of
THE WEST BANK, Occupied Palestinian Territory – “I suffered from postpartum fever, but reaching the hospital was nearly impossible because of the siege on medical services,” said 26-year-old Sara*, from the Nur Shams…
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Women at the crossroads: Fleeing war in Sudan for an uncertain future in South Sudan
South Sudan
UPPER NILE STATE, South Sudan – Mary Kak is threading beads onto a string, making jewellery she hopes to later sell at a marketplace in Renk, a border town in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State.
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Every two minutes a woman dies in pregnancy and childbirth: Tackling a global maternal health crisis
New York
UNITED NATIONS, New York – An average of 712 women die every day during pregnancy or childbirth – one woman every two minutes – according to a new United Nations report. Released today, this report finds that a…
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A chance encounter leads to critical maternal care in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
NORTH KIVU PROVINCE, The Democratic Republic of the Congo – Chance Azina walked slowly along the streets of Goma in North Kivu Province, her body weighed down by the heat at seven months pregnant. Like many others, she…
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“Everything fell apart in seconds”: Women and girls need urgent support after disastrous earthquake in Myanmar
Myanmar
MANDALAY, Myanmar— “I’ve lived here all my life, but I have never experienced anything as devastating as this earthquake,” said 55-year-old Than in Mandalay, her voice trembling. “Everything fell apart in seconds.”
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“I witnessed unimaginable horrors”: Sexual violence used as weapon of terror against women and girls across Sudan
Sudan
NORTHERN STATE, Sudan – In late 2024, armed men forced their way into Layla’s* home in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, while she was alone with her children. “They arrested my son and took me to a separate car,” she…
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“Life is dangerous for women in this camp”: In the Central African Republic, survivors of sexual violence lose critical support as funding is slashed
Central African Republic
BANGUI PREFECTURE/BIRAO, The Central African Republic – “Life is dangerous for women in this camp,” said Mariam Zakaria, 32, who recently fled brutal violence and conflict in Sudan, returning to the Central African…
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“The people in Syria are destroyed from war”: A call for peace after violence in the coastal region
Syrian Arab Republic
HOMS, The Syrian Arab Republic – “The people in Syria are destroyed from war. There has been no year that has been okay for us. My generation has suffered a lot,” said Maryam,* a 21-year old woman from Homs in western…
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“Every pregnancy these days is a struggle”: Restoring life-saving healthcare in Gaza
Palestine, State of
GAZA STRIP, Occupied Palestinian Territory – Two weeks into her ninth month of pregnancy, Roozan Abu Jbarah hoped she would manage to give birth safely. “I’ve been having pain and my water broke,” she told UNFPA, the…
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Explainer: Why investing in women and girls benefits everyone
New York
UNITED NATIONS, New York – The right to go to school. To join the workforce. The right to vote. To have a bank account. The right to choose whether to have children. The right to use contraception – or not. The right to…
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Mental health support teams in Ukraine offer a lifeline in a warzone
Ukraine
DNIPRO, Ukraine – A young mother stepped off the train in the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro, holding a small bag and guiding her five children with her other arm. She had fled the Zaporizhzhia region due to the war,…
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This Valentine's Day, busting 5 common myths about child marriage
New York
UNITED NATIONS, New York – “I was married at 14, and I lost my first child at 16 during pregnancy,” Ranu Chakma told UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Child marriage is common in her…
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