Pregnant Syrian refugees fearful of future

Pregnant refugee women living in informal tent settlements are among the most vulnerable of the hundreds of thousands of Syrians who have found shelter in Jordan. They often can't afford doctor visits and face potential health hazards because of lack of running water and other challenges.

By contrast, pregnant women in Jordan's three official refugee camps have access to free services, including pre-natal care and delivery, according to the U.N. refugee agency. Zaatari, the largest camp, saw more than 3,500 births last year, out of a total more than 18,000 babies born to refugee mothers in 2014, the agency says.

Nearly 3.8 million Syrians have fled their country and are now registered as refugees, according to the United Nations. Most face increasingly desperate circumstances.

Pregnant women who spoke to The Associated Press in makeshift tent camps near the northern Jordanian town of Mafraq say they are fearful of an uncertain future.

"A couple of weeks ago, I couldn't feel my baby moving in my belly so I panicked and didn't know what to do since I can't afford heading to a clinic and check," says Huda Alsayil, who fled fighting in Hama three years ago and is five months pregnant.

Wadhah Hamada from al-Hasaka says she has no clue how her four-month pregnancy is progressing.

"I can't afford to pay 50 Jordanian dinars ($70) for my ultrasound and other medical checks," she says. "Our future is dark, my life is in a tent and my first child's life won't be different."

Khalida Alfarraj from Idlib suffers from low blood sugar and dizziness two months into her pregnancy, but cannot afford medicine.

"I am so scared, this is my first baby," Alfarraj says. "I want to send a message to every pregnant woman in the world, feel blessed to have a safe roof and a family around you."

Here is a series of portraits by AP photographer Muhammed Muheisen of pregnant Syrian refugee women living in makeshift camps.

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In this Monday, March 16, 2015 photo, Syrian refugee Samira Helal, 17, who is two months pregnant, poses for a portrait at inside her tent at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. Nearly 3.8 million Syrians have fled their country and are now registered as refugees, according to the U.N. Most face increasingly desperate circumstances. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

In this Tuesday, March 17, 2015 photo, Syrian refugee Mahdiya Alkhalid, 36, poses for a portrait at nine months pregnant inside her tent at an informal settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. Unlike expectant mothers in informal tented settlements, pregnant women in Jordanís three recognized refugee camps have access to free services, including pre-natal care and delivery, according to the U.N. refugee agency. Zaatari, the largest camp, saw more than 3,500 births last year, out of a total more than 18,000 babies born to refugee mothers in 2014, the agency says. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

In this Monday, March 16, 2015 photo, Syrian refugee Taleea Farhan, 33, a mother of four children who is seven months pregnant, poses for a photograph inside her tent at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

In this Tuesday, March 17, 2015 photo, pregnant Syrian refugee Huda Alsayil, 20, poses for a portrait inside her tent at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. ìA couple of weeks ago, I couldnít feel my baby moving in my belly so I panicked and didnít know what to do since I canít afford heading to a clinic and check,î says Alsayil, who fled fighting in Hama three years ago and is five months pregnant. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

In this Tuesday, March 17, 2015 photo, Syrian refugee Adala Ismail, 32, who is six months pregnant, poses for a portrait inside her tent at an informal settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. Expectant mothers in these settlements often canít afford doctor visits and face potential health hazards because of lack of running water and other challenges. By contrast, pregnant women in Jordanís three recognized refugee camps have access to free services, including pre-natal care and delivery, according to the U.N. refugee agency. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

In this Monday, March 16, 2015 photo, Syrian refugee Khalida Alfarraj, 22, who is pregnant with her first child, poses for a portrait inside her tent at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. She suffers from low blood sugar and dizziness two months into her pregnancy, but cannot afford medicine. ìI want to send a message to every pregnant woman in the world, feel blessed to have a safe roof and a family around you," she said. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

In this Monday, March 16, 2015 photo, pregnant Syrian refugee Wadhah Hamada, 22, poses for a portrait inside her tent at an informal settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. Hamada, who fled al-Hasaka, Syria, says she has no clue how her four-month pregnancy is progressing. ìI canít afford to pay 50 Jordanian dinars ($70) for my ultrasound and other medical checks,î she says. ìOur future is dark, my life is in a tent and my first childís life won't be different.î (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

In this Monday, March 16, 2015 photo, Syrian refugee Khalida Moussa, 28, a mother of three children who is six months pregnant, poses for a picture inside her tent at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

In this Monday, March 16, 2015 photo, Syrian refugee Thuraya Nayif, 40, a mother of seven children in her second month of pregnancy, poses for a photograph inside her tent at an informal settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. Pregnant refugee women living in informal tent settlements are among the most vulnerable of the hundreds of thousands of Syrians who have found shelter in Jordan. They often canít afford doctor visits and face potential health hazards because of lack of running water and other challenges. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

In this Monday, March 16, 2015 photo, Syrian refugee Shams Alhamadah, 24, who is two months pregnant with her fifth child, poses for a portrait with her son Ismail inside their tent at an informal tented settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

In this Monday, March 16, 2015 photo, pregnant Syrian refugee Bushra Eidah, 15, poses for a portrait during her ninth month inside her tent at an informal settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. Pregnant refugee women living in informal tent settlements are among the most vulnerable of the hundreds of thousands of Syrians who have found shelter in Jordan. They often canít afford doctor visits and face potential health hazards because of lack of running water and other challenges. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

In this Monday, March 16, 2015 photo, Syrian refugee Huda Alhumaidi, 30, a mother of six children who is four months pregnant, poses for a portrait inside her tent at an informal settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

In this Monday, March 16, 2015 photo, Syrian refugee Feedah Ali, 18, who is four months pregnant, poses for a portrait inside her tent at an informal settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. Pregnant refugee women living in these settlements are among the most vulnerable of the hundreds of thousands of Syrians who have found shelter in Jordan. By contrast, pregnant women in Jordanís three recognized refugee camps have access to free services, including pre-natal care and delivery, according to the U.N. refugee agency. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

In this Monday, March 16, 2015 photo, Syrian refugee Wazeera Elaiwi, 29, a mother of two children now six months pregnant, poses for a portrait inside her tent at an informal settlement near the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Mafraq, Jordan. Pregnant refugee women living in informal tent settlements are among the most vulnerable of the hundreds of thousands of Syrians who have found shelter in Jordan. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

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Text from the AP news story, AP PHOTOS: Pregnant Syrian refugees fearful of future, by Muhammed Muheisen. 

Follow Muhammed Muheisen | Twitter: @Muheisen81 | Instagram: @mmuheisen

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