New York 20 April 2023 – The heavy combating which continues in Sudan’s capital Khartoum and throughout the nation is placing tens of 1000’s of pregnant ladies at risk, making it too perilous to enterprise exterior their properties to hunt pressing care in hospitals and clinics.

UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive well being company, estimates there are 219,000 pregnant ladies in Khartoum, together with 24,000 ladies anticipated to provide beginning within the coming weeks. Violent clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have made it extraordinarily tough for ladies to hunt important antenatal care, protected supply providers, or postnatal care.

The battle has not spared Sudan’s well being care system: at the very least 20 hospitals have been pressured to close down in Khartoum due to the violence. An additional 12 hospitals throughout the nation are nonetheless working however may quickly shut as they wrestle with energy and water cuts and an absence of employees.

Doctors, nurses and hospital employees are unable to journey to work and very important humanitarian help isn’t getting by due to roadblocks and ongoing combating, leaving medical services understaffed, overwhelmed, and operating low on crucial medical provides.

If the violence doesn’t cease, there’s a hazard that the well being system will collapse and pregnant ladies and their unborn youngsters will die.

UNFPA can be involved concerning the 3.1 million ladies and ladies who’re going through elevated dangers of life-threatening gender-based violence as safety providers are interrupted by the clashes.

UNFPA reminds all events to the battle of their obligations beneath worldwide humanitarian regulation: to guard all civilians, together with the wounded and sick, well being care employees and humanitarians, and guarantee unrestricted entry to well being services and hospitals for these in want. Attacks on well being care are a flagrant violation of worldwide regulation and the precise to well being and should cease now.

UNFPA stands in solidarity with our fellow United Nations businesses and the broader humanitarian and improvement neighborhood, and deplores the lethal assaults on UN employees. We are extraordinarily involved concerning the security of our employees in Khartoum and different affected areas, who’re trapped inside their homes and are starting to expire of water, meals and demanding medicines.

The present insecurity is making the supply of humanitarian help nearly unattainable and comes on the worst time for the folks of Sudan because the nation faces unprecedented wants.

Under extraordinarily difficult circumstances, UNFPA continues to assist companions on the bottom to supply life-saving well being care, distribute provides for protected births and to handle of obstetric emergencies by a community of midwives, whereas additionally attempting to make sure the security of its personal employees, companions and their households. In response to elevated gender-based violence dangers, efforts are underway to coach service suppliers to supply distant psychosocial assist to affected ladies and ladies.

UNFPA joins the UN Secretary-General in calling for the humanitarian pause to be revered so that folks can entry meals, water, medication and the healthcare they desperately want.

For interviews or extra info, please contact:
New York – Anna Jefferys, jefferys@unfpa.org, UNFPA Media and Crisis Communications Adviser: +1 917 769 7454
Cairo – Samir Aldarabi, aldarabi@unfpa.org, UNFPA Regional Communications Adviser +20 106 848 4879