Sudan’s displacement crisis fuels rise in miscarriages

October 31, 2024 (PORT SUDAN) – Miscarriages are rising sharply among displaced women in Sudan due to a severe lack of reproductive healthcare, the Sudanese Family Planning Association (SFPA) warned on Thursday.

This alarming trend comes as over 11 million people are displaced across Sudan, sheltering in over 9,470 locations, according to the International Organization for Migration.

“Hundreds of women in shelters suffer from a severe shortage of reproductive health services,” the SFPA said in a statement. “Miscarriages have increased due to the lack of proper medical care.”

The group also reported a rise in maternal and newborn deaths, citing inadequate pregnancy care and a lack of essential medical equipment.

This health crisis is exacerbated by the ongoing violence in eastern Sudan, where recent attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have displaced over 119,000 people from villages in the Gezira region.

The SFPA highlighted the “immense pressure” on already scarce resources and services, leaving women and girls particularly vulnerable.

The association also documented numerous cases of gender-based violence, including physical and sexual assault, further jeopardizing the health and well-being of displaced women and girls.

The SFPA, founded in 1965, is working with international organizations like the International Planned Parenthood Federation and UNICEF to provide urgent support, including medical care, hygiene kits, and reproductive health programs.