Now eight months pregnant and sheltering in a makeshift camp, Fatima says her greatest fear is not the freezing cold but what might happen if she goes into labour without access to medical care. As a displaced mother of three, she describes displacement as more than the loss of a home, noting that women are stripped of privacy, safety, and reliable healthcare at a time when they are most vulnerable.
Fatima is one of tens of thousands of women and girls affected by the recent surge in violence and insecurity around Aleppo, which has forced mass displacement, disrupted essential services, and led to the closure of hospitals. Many families fled under bombardment, carrying little more than fear as they escaped, uncertain if they would survive the journey to safety.
Ongoing clashes have left tens of thousands still displaced in and around Aleppo, with insecurity spreading into surrounding areas. Winter conditions have sharply worsened the crisis, forcing families to endure freezing temperatures in makeshift camps, abandoned schools, and unfinished buildings. Mothers describe the cold as unbearable, with their primary concern being how to keep their children warm and safe.
The scale of displacement across Syria continues to grow. By December 2025, nearly 900,000 people had been newly displaced, adding to almost seven million already uprooted inside the country. After 14 years of conflict compounded by climate shocks and economic decline, Syria’s recovery remains fragile, with humanitarian needs soaring and healthcare systems severely damaged.
In response, UNFPA and its partners have deployed mobile health teams to reach displaced communities with life-saving sexual and reproductive healthcare, dignity kits, and psychosocial support. However, an estimated 400,000 pregnant women across Syria are still struggling to access essential maternity services, a situation made worse by deep funding cuts that have further limited the availability of care.
