Published on: 2026-08-04
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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August 3, 2026 Humanitarian Aid
As a result of fierce fighting, tens of thousands of residents of the Blue Nile state have been forced to leave their homes in the first five months of 2026. Most of them are women and children. Some residents have found refuge in overcrowded camps for displaced persons, but ongoing violence, destroyed infrastructure, and frequent floods often make accessing vital medical care impossible.
“Some women gave birth right on the road. We provided them with emergency assistance and necessary support. If there had not been trained midwives nearby, the consequences could have been tragic: due to heavy bleeding, both the mother and the child could have died,” said Saida, a midwife from the town of Bot in Sudan’s Blue Nile state, to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Saida herself was forced to leave her home in 2024. She now works in a mobile medical clinic established with UNFPA support in the Al-Karama-3 camp for displaced persons in the capital of the state, Ed-Damazine. Saida is one of 15 midwives whom UNFPA has trained, equipped with the necessary tools, and deployed to communities where their assistance is particularly needed.
“Without her, it would have been very difficult for me,” said Somaya, whom Saida helped in the camp. “We have no money, and we don’t know where to turn or how to get medical help here. Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to get to the hospital.”
Help for every woman
Safiya was also sent by UNFPA to the “Al-Karama” camp. She keeps records of all pregnant women and their places of residence.
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“If a woman doesn’t come to me, I go to her myself, wherever she is, to check her condition and find out why she didn’t come,” Safiya said.
Most medical facilities in Sudan remain non-operational, leaving displaced pregnant women without safe and consistent access to care. UNFPA experts operate mobile clinics and safe spaces across the country, but due to massive funding cuts, many of these have had to be closed.
Midwives are one of the most effective investments in healthcare
Midwives are capable of providing almost the entire range of essential services in the field of sexual and reproductive health — from counseling on family planning issues to identifying complications and referring patients to hospitals. They also assist survivors of gender-based violence, participate in epidemiological surveillance, and conduct educational outreach.
“Pregnant women regularly come to me to find out about their condition and what they need to do to stay healthy,” Safiya said. “I monitor each woman starting from the third month of pregnancy until a successful delivery.”
Investing in obstetric care is considered one of the most cost-effective, successful, and sustainable ways to strengthen the health of mothers and newborns and reduce mortality among them.
“Today our work is not limited to helping pregnant women,” Safia continued. “We also provide necessary medications and postpartum care for nursing mothers. The rainy season is one of our most serious challenges. Moving around the camp becomes very difficult, and getting women to hospitals in emergency situations is even harder.”
Saving lives through knowledge and skills
In the first three weeks of work, midwives supported by UNFPA assisted with 140 safe deliveries and provided care for more than 700 pregnant women. With the support of the Government of Norway, UNFPA is training another 30 midwives in the state of White Nile and 30 in North Kordofan. After completing their training, they will be deployed to crisis-affected areas where the need for maternal and reproductive health services is increasing.
In addition, UNFPA organizes the referral of women to the Ed-Damazin maternity hospital for cesarean sections, and also provides financial assistance and vouchers to cover other types of aid during complicated childbirths. For pregnant women with hepatitis E, an isolated room has been equipped where they can receive specialized care amid worsening sanitary conditions in the camp.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the information source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.