Kaltouma is determined to keep on surviving for her children, and dreams of a future when her community returns to peace.

What it’s like to be a mother in conflict

Aster and Gidey are two mothers who had to leave their homes as tensions grew, witnessing extreme atrocities along the way. Now having reached safety, they talked of raising awareness of what they had experienced, wishing for the world to know what happened to their lives and families.

Amina*, a 47-year old mother living in northeast Syria, knows first-hand what it means to have war completely turn your life around — but through this experience, she’s well-versed in making do with whatever is available to her.

Communities living in displacement camps in Myanmar are trying to recover from ongoing violence in their hometown. Moe Moe*, 25, lives with her son and mother in one of these camps in eastern Myanmar. She fled there after their village came under heavy attack, causing them and many of their neighbours to leave in search of safety.

Aishatu and Nana are two remarkable mothers aged 40 and 48, respectively. They live in Gwoza, a garrison town in northeast Nigeria that shelters 60,000 people, many of whom have been displaced by conflict.

Determined to stay in Ukraine, Tetiana found shelter in an EU and IRC supported shelter with her daughters.

Bisharo and Nurad are two 35-year-old mothers living in Ethiopia, where a combination of climate shocks and conflict has deepened the food insecurity. Though different circumstances caused them to become displaced, they have come to share the same daily goal: to gain access to food that will keep their children well-nourished and healthy.

Lalla, a 40-year old mother to six, was forced to flee with her family when conflict broke out. Now living on the outskirts of Meneka, a town in the southeast of Mali, she talks about what she's gone through, how the IRC is helping, and why she never fails to smile.

Babies bring their parents endless love, joy and strength – but raising them doesn’t come without its challenges. But what would it be like if you had to raise a baby in a war-torn country? For mothers in Areesha camp in northeast Syria, looking after their newborns takes a remarkable level of resilience.