When was the last time you read a headline about the people of Syria? 

For many, the Syrian crisis has slipped into the background noise of global catastrophes - out of sight, out of mind. But for millions of Syrians, the emergency never ended. For more than a decade, Syria has been gripped by a devastating civil war, ignited by a revolution against the Assad regime. Fourteen years after the conflict began, more than 14 million people have been forced from their homes, 7.4 million remain displaced inside the country, and everyday life is defined by scarcity: food, medicine, and safety are all in short supply. In the midst of this, one urgent crisis remains largely invisible: the fight for mothers and babies to survive pregnancy and childbirth. 

In much of the Middle East and North Africa, maternal health care is riddled with obstacles. Women are often the last in their families to seek medical care. Mothers will feed their children before themselves and make sure their kids see a doctor before they even think about their own health. This isn’t just a matter of resources, it’s also deeply cultural. In many communities, there is still pressure to have as many children as possible, with little room for recovery, family planning, or even the woman’s own wishes. 

To the team at Every Pregnancy, the math is simple: when you take care of mom, you take care of everyone else.

At its core, Every Pregnancy is a powerful network that spans more than 40 global humanitarian partner organizations: with lifesaving maternal and newborn child health programs all around the world; including in Gaza, Afghanistan, Türkiye, Yemen, Jordan, and Lebanon. The organization’s latest initiative in Syria is one of great importance. 

As CEO of Every Pregnancy, Syrian-American advocate and activist Isra Chaker knew this was her opportunity to build something sustainable in her homeland, to really support the needs of mothers and babies in the immediate and long term.  

In the chaos of displacement, Chaker says, maternal health often disappears from the priority list. Aid agencies understandably focus on food, shelter, and emergency relief, but those are short-term measures. “A lot of traditional actors parachute in, deliver aid, and leave,” she explains. “That’s not how you build lasting change.” For her, Syria isn’t just another program implementation site. It’s personal. She understands the cultural nuances, the trust required to work in communities devastated by crisis, and the urgent need to center mothers in the rebuilding process.

Every Pregnancy’s Syria initiative is the first of its kind: a holistic maternal health strategy rooted entirely in local partnerships. By working with five Syrian-led organizations already established in the country, the coalition is tackling everything from maternal and neonatal care to psychosocial support - an essential but often neglected part of after birth recovery. These partners are not outsiders; they are indigenous to the communities they serve, with deep knowledge of the culture, geography, and the everyday challenges families face.

Fundraising is part of the plan, but for Chaker, awareness and mobilizing people is just as critical. She believes Syria has slipped from the headlines and, with it, from the world’s sense of urgency. By putting maternal health front and center, she hopes to reframe Syria as a place where investment in mothers and babies is not just humanitarian, but strategic for the country’s long-term stability.

And in Syria, she insists that the future is still worth fighting for. It’s worth fighting for now more than ever.

Every Pregnancy’s Syria fundraising campaign is in partnership with:

Hand in Hand For Aid Development (HiHFAD) – Delivers maternity, newborn, and primary care in underserved areas — safe births, newborn support, and emergency referrals.

Human Appeal – Runs Al Imaan Maternity & Children’s Hospital in NW Syria, offering free care to thousands each month, including OB, neonatal, and emergency services.

MedGlobal – Trains and equips Syrian health workers in emergency obstetrics, newborn resuscitation, and postpartum care; supplies hospitals with oxygen and critical tools.

Syria Relief & Development (SRD) – Operates Al-Salam Maternity & Children’s Hospital and PHCs, providing reproductive health, infant feeding support, and community-based outreach.

Karam Foundation – Supports families so mothers can focus on health — cash aid, heated homes, essentials, and services across Syria

You can learn more and donate here: everypregnancy.org/Syria