Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 800 women around the world died every day from pregnancy-related causes. For each one of these deaths, another 20 to 30 women suffered acute or chronic illness or disabilities from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

The Nairobi Summit in November 2019 was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), at which non-state actors made $8 billion in financial commitments to support the full implementation of the Programme of Action, including ending preventable maternal deaths. A High-Level Commission was established on 17 September 2020, tasked with keeping the 1,300 commitments made at the Nairobi Summit on track as COVID-19 threatened to turn back the clock on maternal health.

The Safe Birth Even Here campaign is aimed at raising public awareness of the alarming rate of maternal deaths in emergency and humanitarian settings and increasing support for protecting the rights of women and girls living in these precarious environments. This photo gallery is a snapshot of maternal health in humanitarian settings in the midst of the pandemic, highlighting the urgency of reducing maternal mortality through greater investments and maintaining the momentum of the Nairobi Summit. 

Khadija, a 28-year-old Syrian woman from Deir Ezzour, recently survived a harrowing journey as she gave birth to her sixth child. With help from the UNFPA-supported mobile team she was referred to a hospital and safely delivered her new baby boy, Mohamed. © UNFPA Syria

Raisa, a displaced midwife, travels for hours on foot to assist thousands of displaced women and girls in Al Wadi District, Marib, Yemen. © UNFPA Yemen

A mobile clinic supporting Ethiopian refugees in Blue Nile state, Sudan. The clinic provides women and girls in the camp with life-saving sexual and reproductive health services. © UNFPA Sudan

Stephanie, a midwife at Marigot Health Centre in Haiti, holds a newborn baby delivered safely earlier that day. © Elena Heatherwick

A UNFPA-supported midwife crossing long distances to provide labour and delivery care at an Ethiopian refugee camp in Blue Nile, Sudan. © UNFPA Sudan

A mother and baby from Myanmar come to use the services at the Mae Tao Clinic, Mae Sot City, Tak Province, Thailand. © UNFPA Vinai Dithajohn

Mumina receives a vaccination from a nurse while sitting on her mother's lap at a maternal and child health centre in Garowe, Somalia. © Tobin Jones

Super Typhoon Rai made landfall in the Philippines on 16 December. It was the third strongest storm ever recorded in the northern hemisphere. © UNFPA Philippines/Sittie Rajabia Monato

An estimated 16 million people have been affected, with 2.4 million in need of humanitarian assistance. Hospitals, clinics and vital infrastructure have been damaged or destroyed. This includes more than 30 women’s and children’s protection centres, a blow to efforts to prevent human trafficking and gender-based violence. © UNFPA Philippines/Sittie Rajabia Monato

UNFPA is working with affected communities and partners to address the increased risk of gender-based violence that typically accompanies a humanitarian catastrophe. Hundreds of thousands of people are currently displaced, with many crowded into displacement sites with little privacy. © UNFPA Philippines/Sittie Rajabia Monato

Emergency supplies, procured with support from the Government of Australia, are being rapidly deployed. These boxes are being rushed to the Dinagat Islands from a warehouse in Manila. © UNFPA Philippines/John Rai Buenaventura

The full toll of deaths and injuries is not yet known. The worst-hit areas had limited maternal, sexual and reproductive health services even before the disaster. Humanitarian workers meet with community members during an assessment mission. © UNFPA Philippines/Sittie Rajabia Monato

UNFPA is also working with local and government partners to address the needs of pregnant women and new mothers, and to support broader sexual and reproductive health efforts. © UNFPA Philippines/Sittie Rajabia Monato