Alarming Health Crisis: Pregnant Women and Newborns Perish in South Darfur

Pregnant women, mothers, and newborns are dying at an alarming rate in South Darfur, Sudan, exacerbated by ongoing conflict between military factions. Médecins Sans Frontières highlights severe malnutrition and inadequate healthcare conditions. Immediate international intervention is urgently needed to prevent further tragedy and provide humanitarian assistance.

Pregnant women, mothers, and newborn babies are dying at an alarming rate in Sudan's South Darfur region, with thousands of malnourished children on the brink of starvation, according to medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). The health crisis in South Darfur is one of the worst globally, driven by military conflict that began last April, MSF reported.

"The situation in South Darfur reflects a wider crisis unfolding at dreadful levels across war-torn and isolated regions of Sudan," the report stated. MSF recorded 46 maternal deaths and 48 newborn deaths from sepsis in two South Darfur hospitals between January and August.

About one-third of children under two years old screened in South Darfur in August were acutely malnourished, more than double the World Health Organization's emergency threshold. Over 8% suffered from severe acute malnutrition, a common cause of death. "Multiple health emergencies are occurring with almost no international response," said Dr. Gillian Burkhardt, MSF's sexual and reproductive health manager in South Darfur.

MSF called for decisive action from the United Nations to prevent further loss of life in Darfur. The U.N. cited underfunding, insecurity, and restricted access as issues hindering aid efforts. The conflict between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has displaced over 10 million people and devastated the capital city.

(With inputs from agencies.)