January 29, 2025 | Democratic Republic of Congo- As bombs rained down on North Kivu, Francine Toyata clutched her belly, the sharp waves of pain signaling the arrival of her child. There was no time to think, no time to prepare—just the instinct to survive. It was 2 a.m. when labor began, in the heart of a warzone.
In a world where childbirth is meant to be sacred, Francine’s reality was far from safe. The relentless fighting between the DRC armed forces and M23 rebels had already displaced her twice. Originally from Kabati in Rutshuru territory, she had sought refuge in Goma—only to be forced into Mugunga and Bulengo camps when the fighting moved dangerously close to the city.
That night, bombs echoed through the camp, and Francine knew she had to reach the UNFPA-supported mobile clinic before it was too late.
Bringing Life Into a Warzone
With the help of her mother, Francine braved the darkness and chaos, reaching the clinic, one of the few remaining safe spaces for displaced women. But even inside the fragile tent, no one was safe. The explosions outside were growing louder.
“What’s going on?” asked a midwife, already recognizing the urgency in Francine’s pain-filled eyes.
“She’s in labor! The baby’s coming!” her mother cried.
With limited resources but unshaken determination, the medical team sprang into action. “Take a deep breath, ma’am. You are strong,” whispered a midwife as she prepared for the delivery—a birth under fire. At 4 a.m., as bombs thundered in the distance, a newborn’s cry pierced the night.
A baby girl had entered the world. Against all odds, she was healthy. Wrapped in a cloth, hastily found in the dim light of the clinic, Francine’s daughter took her first breaths in the most uncertain of circumstances.
Despite exhaustion and pain, Francine managed to smile. “Thank you… thank you so much.”
She looked down at her daughter and whispered, “I will name her Amani—Peace. Because she was born in war, but she will stand for peace.”
“I will name her Amani—Peace. Because she was born in war, but she will stand for peace.”
Urgent need
“It is for women like Francine that we do this work,” said midwife Nelly, reflecting on that harrowing night. “We were not safe. We need more support to meet these urgent needs.”
Francine’s story is not just her own—it is the reality of thousands of women in North Kivu. As the conflict escalates, bombs have started falling inside IDP camps, forcing more women and girls into secondary displacement, and stripping them of the few safety nets they had left.
Today, 12,192 pregnant women are living in displacement, with no certainty of medical care. Over 88,000 women of reproductive age remain at risk of gender-based violence (GBV) and unintended pregnancies due to the collapse of essential health services.
UNFPA on the ground
Despite the overwhelming challenges, UNFPA remains in North Kivu, working alongside the government and humanitarian partners to ensure women and girls receive life-saving care.
- 7 mobile clinics across North Kivu, including 1 in Minova, staffed by 27 midwives delivering maternal and reproductive healthcare.
- 3 static health facilities supporting 8 IDP camps to ensure safe deliveries, prenatal care, and family planning.
- Community-based distributors providing contraceptives and reproductive health commodities despite supply chain disruptions.
- A GBV hotline offering immediate support, referrals, and protection for survivors.
- Safe spaces for women and girls, providing psychosocial care and a haven from violence.
But the needs are growing faster than resources can keep up. Supply corridors remain blocked, forcing critical shortages in maternal health supplies and fuel for ambulances. As fighting moves closer to Goma, pregnant women and newborns are facing the unimaginable—giving birth in war zones, fleeing for their lives, and losing access to care.
Francine’s story is not unique. There are thousands of other women bracing for childbirth in tents, under bombardment, unsure if they or their babies will survive the night.
