Resilient Motherhood: How IOM and UNFPA Supported Over 5,000 New Mothers Amidst the War

Lviv-Vinnytsia – In a small room full of toys on the outskirts of Lviv, 2-year-old Nadia plays joyfully, while 6-month-old Nazar watches his sister attentively. Despite the ongoing war and air raid alerts, Daria's family is happy, finding new meaning in the darkest of times. 

“Last year, I found out that I was pregnant again. I was initially concerned because tomorrow is unknown. But my spouse and I had always wanted to have two children. So, we believe that everything will be fine,” Daria shares. 

Daria is originally from Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region. When the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, her husband had been working in Lviv, while she stayed in Melitopol with their one-year-old daughter Nadia. Daria had to live under Russian occupation for six months. When the opportunity arose, she relocated to Lviv, where the family was reunited.  

“When I gave birth to Nazar, there were four air raid alarms that day. Being a mother during a war is challenging and frightening. But I can't imagine how I would feel without my daughter and son,” Daria says. 

Daria's husband is the family's primary breadwinner, making financial assistance essential for the family.  This holds truefor 56% of displaced people, according to IOM data. That's why IOM and UNFPA are supporting pregnant and lactating mothers through cash grants to cover basic family needs. Daria received the funds in December 2023, most of which was spent on food and diapers for 6-month-old Nazar. 

Dina's large family, now living in Vinnytsia, has also benefited from the assistance.   

Dina is the mother of two daughters and three sons, the youngest of whom is only 2 months old. The family experienced the harsh realities of shelling and displacement in 2014. The family was forced to leave their home in Donetsk and start all over again in Vinnytsia. 

"We lived near the airport [in Donetsk], there were several explosions very close to us. So, we gathered what we could, locked the apartment and left. The girls were little then, and our eldest son had just finished highschool. We accepted what had happened and left," recalls Dina.  

Over the past 8 years, her life has changed radically. She gave up her job as a paramedic and pursued studies to become a hairdresser. Opting for a more flexible schedule made it easier to support her family and take care for her children. During the war, she gave birth to two younger sons.   

The family received cash assistance from IOM and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) immediately after Makar's birth. They spent the funds on a baby pram, as well as diapers, nappies and baby formula.   

"Eighty per cent of our income is spent on food because we have a large family. We want to give our children everything they need. Of course, we make sacrifices, we get some help, we work hard - that's how we live," she says.   

A flexible schedule allows Dina to spend more time with her children. The family rents a house in Vinnytsia, but still dreams of owning their own home. Their apartment in Donetsk is still standing. Asked if they would like to return, they say without hesitation that they would not.  

Between August and December 2023, a total of  over 2,500 pregnant women or women with newborns in Ukraine received financial assistance through IOM, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA),  thanks to the finanical support of USAID's Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance.