In remote areas of Sudan, many women give birth at home, relying on traditional methods due to a severe lack of healthcare facilities. In Darfur, few centers remain operational, forcing pregnant women to undertake day-long journeys on foot or by donkey to seek care. This often results in complications, miscarriages, or deaths.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) operates in 10 of Sudan’s 18 states and observes the grave impact of the ongoing conflict on women’s health. In West and Central Darfur, women frequently seek medical help only after complications arise, putting their lives and their babies’ lives at significant risk. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that over 70 percent of health facilities in conflict areas like Darfur are closed or barely operational.
One tragic case involved a mother who bled heavily after giving birth at home. Despite her family’s desperate effort to rush her to the hospital after a day of walking, she did not survive. The war has severely affected the health of pregnant women, leading to malnutrition and preterm births. Many infants are admitted to hospitals to ensure their survival.
“The biggest challenge is providing food for my children,” says a mother at Murnei hospital, where MSF provides essential support. Zalingei hospital is the only facility available for specialized care for about 500,000 people in the area, performing over 40 emergency caesarean sections monthly.
After suffering severe abdominal pain at home, Afaf Omar Yahya traveled hours on a donkey to Zalingei hospital, where she learned she had miscarried and required an emergency caesarean section. “Losing the baby was my greatest heartbreak,” she shared during her recovery.
Women across Darfur face similar difficulties, often developing severe complications from home births. The lack of basic healthcare facilities means many rely on far-off hospitals. “Most health facilities are now empty buildings with no staff or medications,” says Osanatu Sento Bangura from Murnei hospital.
Many complications could have been prevented with adequate antenatal care, but most facilities have been out of service since the war began.
Twelve days after giving birth at home, Sameera visited the Romalia mobile clinic in West Darfur with a high fever and an infected arm. After conducting tests, the clinic team treated her infection, highlighting the ongoing healthcare crisis in the region.
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