Pregnancy In Tents Photo Essay

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. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)

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 Jordan’s 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. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)

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. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)

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. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)

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 Jordan’s three recognized refugee camps have access to free services, including pre-natal care and delivery, according to the U.N. refugee agenc. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)

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. “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”, she said. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)

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. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)

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 can’t afford doctor visits and face potential health hazards because of lack of running water and other challenges. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)

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. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)

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. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)

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. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)

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. “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”. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)

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. “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 Alsayil, who fled fighting in Hama three years ago and is five months pregnant. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)

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. (Photo by Muhammed Muheisen/AP Photo)