It was often on the days my daughter hadn’t slept that the conversation would begin. I’d message a friend, wondering aloud whether I’d make it through the day without a major mistake. I was the prime minister of New Zealand—only the second woman in the world to give birth while leading a country—and some days were tough.
But one response from my friend, who was also deep in the demands of caregiving, always made me pause: “Women give birth during war.”
I understood what she meant. Those five words were meant to remind me that every day, women overcome incredible challenges—surviving terrible circumstances while still being mothers and caregivers. If they could endure, so could I. Yet that wasn’t how her words landed. Instead, they made me think constantly about the women giving birth amid the dangers of war.
We live in a world full of humanitarian crises—famine, civil conflict—and the reality is often reduced to cold statistics: tons of food delivered or not, aid money promised or withdrawn, territory gained or lost, bombs dropped, casualties counted.
None of that captures a simple truth: even in the most extreme conditions, life goes on. Children still need to be fed. People grieve their loved ones while searching for a safe place to sleep. Illnesses still need treatment. And women still give birth—many without surviving.
Globally, the leading cause of maternal death during childbirth is postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). The World Health Organization estimates that 14 million women are affected each year, but these deaths are largely preventable. In high-income countries, fatalities from PPH have been nearly eliminated. Yet worldwide, 70,000 women still die annually—one death every 7.5 minutes. More than half occur in the 25 countries currently appealing for humanitarian aid.
These are women in South Sudan, where decades of civil unrest have made it one of the most dangerous places to become a mother, with a maternal mortality rate of over 1,200 per 100,000 births.
These are newborns in Burkina Faso, where hundreds of health facilities have closed due to worsening security, leaving thousands to grow up without mothers—and with all the social and economic hardship that brings.
There’s no denying these are difficult environments to work in, which is part of why progress in preventing these deaths has been slow. But preventable they remain.
Recently, researchers from the World Health Organization and the University of Birmingham published a study suggesting a new approach called E-MOTIVE could reduce deaths from PPH. The study, involving over 200,000 women across four countries, found that using a simple, low-cost collection drape to measure blood loss, and bundling proven treatments together rather than offering them one by one, led to dramatic improvements.
These solutions are affordable and scalable, but they’ve mostly been used in stable settings, not the conflict and crisis zones where they’re most urgently needed.
That’s why the International Rescue Committee is launching a new global partnership called Safer Births in Crises. This coalition brings together experienced organizations like the International Medical Corps, the UN Population Fund, and Jhpiego to deliver life-saving PPH prevention and treatment to the world’s most vulnerable women.
While the initiative will start in countries like South Sudan and Burkina Faso, it will also explore how to adapt these solutions for places like Papua New Guinea, which faces increasing extreme weather events. With future resources, the partnership hopes to expand access to these critical interventions.The Matariki Fund for Women is stepping in to address a critical funding gap, providing $4 million to a consortium working to save the lives of thousands of women who die each year during childbirth in crisis-affected regions, including the Middle East.
But this alone is not enough. Even a child born safely in these circumstances enters a world of crisis.
In the coming weeks, world leaders will gather for the UN General Assembly. As they meet, we must keep urging those in power to respond to humanitarian crises—from the conflict in Ukraine to climate-driven disasters. We should start with Gaza. There is a way to end the ongoing violence: more countries must recognize Palestinian statehood; any support enabling military action must cease; humanitarian aid must urgently reach those trapped and starving; and medical care must be provided for the injured, the malnourished, and for pregnant and new mothers.
We live in a world filled with humanitarian crises, but we must not reduce human suffering to mere statistics. Yes, women give birth during war, and yes, they die. But they shouldn’t—not during childbirth, and not in the crossfire of conflict. Sometimes, politics and leadership should be that simple.
Jacinda Ardern is a former prime minister of New Zealand.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about maternal mortality and genocide framed in a natural conversational tone with clear direct answers
General Beginner Questions
Q What do you mean by losing mothers to childbirth
A It means women are dying from preventable causes during pregnancy childbirth or shortly after These are deaths that with proper healthcare and support should not happen
Q Why is it our duty to take action on these issues
A Because these are not random tragedies they are often the result of systemic failures injustice and a lack of political will As a global community we have a moral responsibility to protect human life and dignity
Q Arent these two issuesmaternal mortality and genocidecompletely separate
A While they are different they are connected by a common thread the catastrophic and preventable loss of life often targeting vulnerable groups Both represent a profound failure to protect human rights
Q How can an ordinary person possibly help with something this huge
A You dont have to solve it alone Action can be as simple as educating yourself donating to reputable organizations contacting your political representatives or raising awareness in your community Every bit of pressure helps
Questions on Maternal Mortality
Q Where is maternal mortality most common
A The highest rates are in lowincome countries particularly in subSaharan Africa and South Asia However its also a significant and growing problem in some wealthy nations like the United States especially for women of color
Q What are the main causes of maternal death
A The top causes are severe bleeding infections high blood pressure during pregnancy complications from delivery and unsafe abortions Almost all are preventable with skilled care
Q What are some practical solutions to reduce maternal mortality
A Key solutions include training more midwives and healthcare workers ensuring access to emergency obstetric care providing family planning services and addressing underlying issues like poverty and gender inequality
Q Are there organizations I can support that are working on this
A Yes Reputable organizations include UNICEF the World Health Organization UNFPA Médecins Sans Frontires and many local NGOs focused on womens health
Questions on Genocide
