Mothers and children perishing in South Darfur, says MSF

October 4, 2024 (NYALA) – A health crisis is gripping South Darfur, where mothers and children are dying at alarming rates due to a lack of essential medical care. The situation, exacerbated by ongoing conflict and displacement, has reached a breaking point, according to a new report by Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).

The report paints a grim picture of a healthcare system in collapse, leaving vulnerable populations without access to basic and emergency services. Pregnant women, new mothers, and children are bearing the brunt of this crisis, with many dying from preventable causes.

MSF teams on the ground report a staggering number of maternal deaths in their supported facilities. Between January and August 2024, 46 women died due to pregnancy-related complications. A shocking 78% of these deaths occurred within 24 hours of arrival at the hospital, highlighting the desperate state many women are in when they finally manage to reach care.

“This is a crisis unlike anything I’ve seen in my career,” says Dr. Gillian Burkhardt, MSF’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Activity Manager in Nyala. “Newborns, pregnant women, and new mothers are dying at alarming rates. Many deaths could be prevented, but almost everything has collapsed.”

Adding to the tragedy, a severe malnutrition crisis is plaguing children. A recent screening of 30,000 children under two years old in South Darfur revealed that 32.5% suffered from acute malnutrition. This figure far exceeds the World Health Organization’s emergency threshold of 15%. Even more concerning, 8.1% of the children screened suffered from severe acute malnutrition, putting them at imminent risk of starvation.

MSF attributes this crisis to the ongoing conflict, which has decimated healthcare infrastructure and led to mass displacement. Many people have been forced into overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions, increasing their vulnerability to disease and malnutrition. The conflict has also made it extremely difficult for people to access healthcare, with many facing insecurity, a lack of transportation, and high costs.

The report also notes a rise in maternal deaths linked to unsafe abortions, likely a consequence of increased sexual violence amid the conflict.

MSF calls for urgent action to address this crisis, including a cessation of hostilities, unrestricted humanitarian access, and increased funding for emergency medical services.

“The international community cannot stand by while mothers and children die from preventable causes,” Dr. Burkhardt urges. “We need immediate and decisive action to address this crisis before it’s too late.”