A Safe Birth in the Midst of Displacement

At just two days old, baby Ange* rests safely in her mother’s arms — a fragile but powerful symbol of hope in a context marked by conflict and displacement.

Her mother, Sifa*, 25, has already endured more than many do in a lifetime. A mother of three, her life was turned upside down when violence forced her family to flee their home in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Fleeing violence, surviving day by day. 

“Before, life was easy. Now everything has become worse,” Sifa recalls. Like thousands of families, Sifa and her children fled overnight, leaving behind their home, their fields, and everything they owned. They sought refuge in the forest, where survival became a daily struggle.

“Sleeping in the forest every day, getting food from the forest wasn’t easy,” she says. With no stable income and limited access to food, Sifa faced extreme hardship — all while caring for her young children and living in constant fear of ongoing violence.

A life-threatening pregnancy

Amid displacement, Sifa’s situation became even more critical when she began experiencing severe pregnancy-related complications. She suffered from intense abdominal pain and bleeding, requiring urgent medical attention.

Without financial means, accessing care would have been impossible until she was referred to a health facility supported by Save the Children.

Free, life-saving care when it mattered most

Thanks to support from Save the Children, funded by the U.S. Department of State, Sifa received emergency medical care, treatment, and follow-up, completely free of charge.

She was transferred twice to a general hospital for specialized care and closely monitored throughout her pregnancy. “What helped me most was that I did not have to pay,” Sifa explains.

“They took care of me and I have given birth. They didn’t ask me for any money.” This support ultimately saved her life and allowed her to safely deliver her baby girl, Ange.

Supporting frontline health workers

At the health facility, midwife Sephora* is part of a dedicated team working tirelessly to support mothers and newborns. “Save the Children has really equipped us, they have provided us with gynecology beds, medicines, and many other essential supplies,” she explains.

The support has transformed the facility: “In the past, people were afraid to come here, but today there is a lot of activity,” she adds.

Health workers have also received training to improve care, including detecting and managing malnutrition in young children,  strengthening the overall health system.

Reaching the most vulnerable

Sifa’s story is part of a broader humanitarian response under the TUMAINI (Hope) project, which delivers integrated health, nutrition, protection, and WASH services in conflict-affected areas. The project prioritizes vulnerable populations, including: internally displaced families, pregnant and lactating women, and children under five.

Between October 2025 and March 2026 alone, nearly 300,000 people accessed health services through this support.

Hope for the future

Despite ongoing challenges, including food insecurity and lack of livelihood, Sifa remains hopeful.

“For people like us, this support is very important because I have nothing,” she says. Her dream is simple but powerful: “I truly wish my child will become a doctor — someone who treats and helps people like us.”

She also hopes one day to return home and rebuild her life in peace.

Why these matters

In crisis settings, access to free, quality maternal healthcare can mean the difference between life and death.
Sifa and Ange’s story is a reminder that: 

• Conflict disrupts not only lives, but access to essential services
• Timely healthcare saves lives
• Investing in health systems strengthens entire communities

A call to act

Millions of mothers and children in the DRC still face barriers to accessing life-saving care. Sustained support is essential to ensure that no mother must choose between her life and her child’s.