The organization stated in a report that the health crisis in South Darfur is one of the worst crises of its kind in the world, and that it resulted from the conflict between the army and the Rapid Support Forces that erupted in April of last year.
The report stated that “the situation in South Darfur A snapshot of what is likely spreading at horrific rates across the isolated, torn-apart regions. War in Sudan“
MSF added that it recorded 46 maternal deaths in two hospitals in South Darfur supported by the charity between January and August, and 48 neonatal deaths due to sepsis in the same two hospitals between January and June.
The organization said that about a third of children under two years old who were screened in South Darfur in August were suffering from severe acute malnutrition, more than twice the emergency level set by Global Health Organization.
More than 80 percent of these children were found to be suffering from severe malnutrition, a common cause of death.
“Multiple health emergencies are occurring simultaneously with almost no international response from the UN and others,” said Gillian Burkhardt, MSF’s sexual and reproductive health manager in South Darfur, in a statement.
“Newborns, pregnant women and new mothers are dying in shocking numbers,” she continued.
The report stated that conflict and displacement force women to give birth in unsanitary conditions in areas where they do not have access to health care and medicine.
MSF calls for decisive action
South Darfur State hosts the largest number of displaced persons in SudanAccording to the International Agency for Migration.
MSF called on the United Nations to “act decisively to prevent further loss of life in Darfur.”
The United Nations, which is hosting a ministerial meeting with major donors and regional powers on Wednesday to discuss the “cost of inaction” in Sudan, says lack of funding, insecurity and restricted access are hampering relief efforts.
The war forced between Sudanese army The Rapid Support Forces have forced more than 10 million people to flee their homes, destroyed large parts of the capital and sparked waves of ethnically motivated violence in the Darfur region.
