A Mother’s Strength: Hanan’s journey through pregnancy in displacement

“All I want is for my children to be healthy and to live a life better than ours,” says Hanan, a Syrian refugee mother.

Hanan grew up in her hometown in Syria, where she dreamed of raising her children in safety and stability. Now 35 years old, she carries those same hopes as a mother. “All I want is for my children to be healthy and to live a life better than ours,” she said softly.

When the conflict in Syria escalated in 2011, Hanan and her family were forced to flee to Lebanon. They settled in an informal tented settlement in North Bekaa, where harsh winters, limited resources, and uncertainty have shaped their daily lives. Living in a small tent, Hanan and her family struggle to meet even their most basic needs.

Now pregnant with her second child, Hanan faces new challenges. Through regular visits, Medair’s community midwife has been supporting her throughout the pregnancy. During consultations, the midwife identified that Hanan has high blood pressure, putting both her and her unborn baby at risk. She advised Hanan to adjust her diet, reduce certain foods, and manage her weight to help lower her blood pressure.

Hanan is doing her best to follow the guidance, despite the difficulty of her circumstances. “It is not easy,” she explained. “We don’t always have the right food, and everything is expensive.” With no stable income, the thought of welcoming another child weighs heavily on her. “We can barely afford what we have. I worry about how we will manage with a second baby.”

Hanan’s experience reflects the reality for many Syrian refugee mothers in Lebanon, where displacement, poverty, and limited access to healthcare increase the risks during pregnancy.

Through continued support from Medair, Hanan receives essential maternal healthcare, helping to monitor her condition and reduce potential complications. This support offers her reassurance during an uncertain time and helps protect both her and her baby.

“I am trying to stay strong,” Hanan said. “For my children, I have to keep going and do my best.”

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In a small, tented shelter in the Bekaa Valley, Hanan navigates the daily realities shared by many displaced women in the area. Reaching healthcare is often a struggle, as tight household budgets, limited transport options, and heavily stretched public clinics create barriers to even the most basic services.  

To help fill these gaps, community health teams regularly move through the settlements, offering vital support to women and children who might otherwise go without care. Despite the recent escalation, these efforts have not stopped. Midwives continue visiting families whenever conditions allow, and when travel becomes unsafe, they stay connected through phone calls, ensuring that pregnant women remain monitored and supported from a distance.

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Medair's work in Lebanon is possible with funding from the, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Swiss Development Cooperation through Interaction-CH, German Federal Foreign Office, the Department of State – United States, Monegasque Cooperation for Development, Métropole de Grenoble, Agence de l'eau Rhône Méditerranée Corse, and generous private donors.  

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organization. 

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