Ending Maternal Mortality and Expanding Women’s Health Care in Crisis Settings

Every day, nearly 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and the vast majority of these deaths occur in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Limited access to maternal health care, contraception, and skilled providers puts millions of women and girls at risk.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is addressing this urgent crisis through an integrated, life-saving approach that expands access to maternal and reproductive health services, reaching women and families in the world’s most challenging environments.

Today:
• Nearly 95% of maternal deaths occur in low-resource and crisis-affected settings
• Millions of women lack access to skilled care during pregnancy and childbirth
• More than 200 million women globally have an unmet need for modern contraception
• Fragile health systems and funding gaps continue to limit access to essential services

The IRC delivers proven, high-impact solutions where they are needed most. Through mobile health teams, community-based care, and partnerships with local health systems, the IRC reaches women beyond the limits of traditional healthcare infrastructure.

With support from donors like you, the IRC can:
• Provide safe delivery services and emergency obstetric care to save mothers’ lives
• Expand access to modern contraception and family planning services
• Deliver prenatal and postnatal care for mothers and newborns
• Train and equip frontline health workers to provide quality, community-based care
• Strengthen local health systems to ensure long-term, sustainable access

This integrated model improves outcomes for both mothers and babies—preventing complications, reducing unintended pregnancies, and strengthening entire communities.

The IRC has a proven track record of delivering maternal and reproductive health services in some of the world’s most difficult contexts. With continued support, the organization aims to scale these efforts to reach millions more women and girls by 2030.

Your support helps ensure that women not only survive pregnancy and childbirth, but have the opportunity to lead healthy, empowered lives.