FROM RUINS TO HOPE: YASMIN’S JOURNEY TO THE MOTHERHOOD

On February 6, 2023, Yasmin Rena, a 27-year-old Syrian woman, experienced an earthquake that changed her life forever. Living in Syria, where war had raged for 14 years, she initially believed her house had been bombed. The reality soon set in: This was a massive earthquake that left homes in ruins, forcing countless families, including hers, to seek refuge in tented camps.

“When the earthquake happened, my first thought was that our house had been bombed,” Yasmin recalls. “We had lived under airstrikes for so long that destruction felt normal. But then I realized the entire ground was shaking. It was something much bigger.”

The fear of another disaster loomed over them, but Yasmin had more than just her safety to worry about. After eight years of marriage, she was finally pregnant. However, the healthcare system in Syria was in shambles, especially in Idlib, where hospitals were either destroyed or unable to provide adequate medical care. Her challenging pregnancy and risk of complications during childbirth made her situation even more dire.

Determined to secure a safe delivery, Yasmin and her husband decided to migrate to Türkiye. With hospitals and medical facilities available, it was their only hope for a healthy birth. At eight months pregnant, she crossed into Türkiye, seeking a better future for her unborn child.

“I was so afraid something would happen to my baby,” she says. “There were no proper hospitals in Syria, and I couldn’t take any risks. Türkiye was our only option.”

In Türkiye, Yasmin encountered the mobile health team of Dünya Doktorları (DDD)/Médecins du Monde (MdM) Türkiye. Among them was Özlem, a sexual and reproductive health counselor who provided her with medical support and guidance.

Realizing that Yasmin had no identification and was unable to access hospital care, DDD/MdM Türkiye stepped in to assist. They facilitated her hospital admission, providing guidance, counselling and covering the costs of hospital intervention.

With their support, Yasmin safely delivered her daughter, Sara. DDD/MdM Türkiye covered the hospital expenses, which she and her husband could not have afforded. That support extended beyond childbirth, providing follow-up care, essential supplies such as milk and diapers, and emotional reassurance during a challenging time.

“When I held Sara for the first time, I felt overwhelming joy,” Yasmin says. “She is my greatest blessing, and I am so grateful to the people who helped bring her into the world safely.”

Through the support of Dünya Doktorları and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Yasmin Rena not only found medical care but also hope for the future. Now, as she holds her daughter in her arms, she remains deeply grateful for the assistance that changed her life.

DDD/MdM Türkiye, in cooperation with AFD, continues to support countless individuals like Yasmin, offering vital healthcare to those in need, proving that compassion and solidarity can transform lives.