30,000 babies to be born in Sudan with no medical assistance: agency

December 19, 2023 (KHARTOUM) – Some 29,250 babies in Sudan will be born without medical assistance in the next three months, putting them and their mothers at risk of complications that could have lifelong and even fatal consequences, Save the children said on Wednesday.

While an estimated 45,000 babies will be born in the next three months across the entire country, according to the UN, only 35% of the population have access to any form of healthcare.

This, the aid agency said in a statement, leaves 65% of people without access to hospitals, clinics or trained health professionals, meaning some 29,250 of these babies will be born without any professional support.

“The first 28 days of a child’s life – the neonatal, or newborn, period – carries the highest risk of death. It is also the most dangerous period for the newborn’s mother. Even before the war that broke out this year, Sudan had one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, according to UN data,” it partly reads.

The new analysis from Save the Children reportedly comes as aid agencies scramble against the clock to fill the gaping funding gap of 60% of the total US$2.6 billion needed to respond to the conflict.

Following months of violence, the health sector has nearly completely collapsed. Health workers, supplies and facilities continue to be targeted by armed groups, and where health facilities remain open, a lack of medical supplies, including blood bags and oxygen, water, fuel and personnel are severely disrupting services.

“When the conflict that broke out in April, millions of people were pushed into hell. Tens of thousands of new lives will be born into this anguish – more than half with no access to healthcare,” said Dr. Arif Noor, Country Director for Save the Children in Sudan.

He added, “While much of the world celebrates holidays and marks the end of the calendar year, 22 million children in Sudan are living an everyday nightmare of violence, fear, hunger, illness and distress.

Some 25,000 pregnant women, the agency said, are estimated to be on the move across Sudan, likely cut off from health services and the right nutrition needed to support their growing babies.

Save the Children has worked in Sudan since 1983 and is providing life-saving aid and children protection services together with national and international partners. Since the conflict broke out, Save the Children has reached 250,000 people, including more than 135,000 children and is operating medical and nutrition centres to provide food and other items for displaced families.

(ST)