Nineteen-year-old Bibi Nooria from Eshkamish district lives a life familiar to many young Afghan women — one shaped by early marriage and limited resources. Married with three young children, she and her husband, a farmer, struggle daily to make ends meet.Their struggles are compounded by the looming threat of drought, a recurring crisis in Afghanistan  that disproportionately affects vulnerable families. 

When Bibi Nooria became pregnant for the third time, she feared the hardship that lay ahead. Her previous two births had been painful and risky, carried out at home without medical support. This time, as her due date approached, she began experiencing complications. 

Drought conditions exacerbate existing challenges, making access to clean water and nutritious food more difficult, which can negatively impact maternal health and increase the risk of complications in pregnancy and childbirth. During a visit by a Mobile Health Team (MHT) to her village, Bibi Nooria gathered her courage and came forward for a check-up.

After a careful examination, the MHT midwife determined that Bibi Nooria should deliver with the support of a skilled midwife to avoid life-threatening complications. Lacking funds for transport to the nearest health facility, the MHT’s presence, supported by UNFPA and the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) and the Afghanistan Humanitarian Fund (AHF), proved critical in alleviating her fear and uncertainty.