Sepsis and malnutrition crisis among mothers and babies in South Darfur

In South Darfur, a severe health crisis has emerged, particularly affecting mothers and newborns, as reported by Doctors Without Borders. Since April 2023, violence has escalated in Sudan, leading to a significant increase in maternal and infant mortality rates. From January to mid-August 2024, 114 maternal deaths were recorded, with over half occurring in medical facilities, primarily due to sepsis. The situation is exacerbated by a lack of medical resources and high transportation costs, forcing women to give birth in unsafe conditions. The humanitarian organization highlighted that between January and June, 48 newborns died from sepsis in two MSF-supported facilities. Malnutrition rates among children have also surged, with nearly 33% of children under two screened in August being acutely malnourished. The ongoing conflict has severely limited the availability of critical aid, although there was a slight increase in food and nutrition assistance in June. Dr. Gillian Burkhardt from MSF described the crisis as unprecedented, with multiple health emergencies occurring simultaneously and minimal international response. The dire conditions in hospitals, particularly Nyala Teaching Hospital and Kas Rural Hospital, have resulted in 46 maternal deaths, with 78% occurring within the first 24 hours of admission. Many women arrive in critical condition due to delays in seeking care, often caused by financial constraints. The lack of functioning medical facilities and essential supplies has led to preventable deaths among pregnant women and newborns. With most humanitarian organizations absent from the region since the outbreak of war, MSF remains one of the few international groups providing assistance in South Darfur.