Even in the darkest times, I had to be strong, for my children, and the one growing inside me.
Living Through the Unthinkable
Suhad is a mother of six, navigating motherhood under some of the harshest conditions on earth. When Israel’s war on Gaza intensified, she found herself pregnant with her sixth child, not in a place of safety, but amidst airstrikes, displacement, and a tightening blockade on aid.
Each day became a battle:
- Finding clean water
- Scavenging for food
- Shielding her children from trauma
- Enduring pregnancy without access to reliable healthcare
Despite the fear, the exhaustion, and the constant uncertainty, Suhad pressed on. “I didn’t have a choice,” she said. “My children needed me, all of them.”
A Lifeline When It Was Needed Most
In the middle of crisis, Suhad received support through the Power to Choose programme, a rights-based maternal health initiative working in some of the world’s most vulnerable settings.
Through this programme, Suhad was given:
- Vital maternal healthcare
- Prenatal vitamins
- Information to support a healthy pregnancy in emergency conditions
This support wasn’t just medical, it was a lifeline. It meant she could keep going. It meant she and her unborn child had a fighting chance.
Through this programme, Suhad was given:
- Vital maternal healthcare
- Prenatal vitamins
- Information to support a healthy pregnancy in emergency conditions
This support wasn’t just medical, it was a lifeline. It meant she could keep going. It meant she and her unborn child had a fighting chance.
Health is a Human Right
The Power to Choose programme is based on a simple principle: health is a human right.
For women like Suhad, who face violence, poverty, and displacement, this programme puts dignity and choice back into their hands, by providing the care they need to protect themselves and their families.
Standing With Mothers Like Suhad
Suhad’s story is one of strength, but it also shines a light on the urgent needs in Gaza and beyond.
Thousands of mothers are navigating war while trying to keep their children alive and healthy. They should not have to do it alone.
With your support, we can reach more women with the care and dignity they deserve.
