Resilience in the Face of Adversity: The Plight of Pregnant Women and New Mothers in Sudan

Sudan International Human Rights Organization (SIHRO)

Health and Nutrition Advocacy Report

In the throes of a crisis that has enveloped Sudan for ten months, pregnant women and new mothers endure a state of relentless resilience. Amidst a backdrop of conflict, over 108,000 pregnant women find themselves entangled in a battle not just for their survival but for the nascent lives they carry and nurture. This report from the Sudan International Human Rights Organization (SIHRO), steeped in feminist theory, illuminates the dire circumstances faced by women and children in Sudan, underscoring the imperative for immediate, feminist-informed interventions.

A Feminist Analysis of Health and Nutrition Crisis in Sudan

In areas marred by conflict, the fabric of healthcare has unraveled, with two-thirds (67%) of hospitals shuttered and maternity care facilities critically incapacitated. This devastating scenario is emblematic of a broader systemic failure to protect the most vulnerable, particularly pregnant women and new mothers, who are emblematic of life’s continuity amidst chaos.

The feminist lens through which we examine this crisis reveals a glaring disparity in the value assigned to women’s health and well-being, a critical component of societal health. The closing of medical facilities not only signifies a breakdown in healthcare infrastructure but also reflects a more profound, structural disregard for women’s reproductive rights and maternal health.

Waterborne Diseases and Malnutrition: A Double-Edged Sword

In El Fasher, North Darfur’s capital, the disruption of water supplies exacerbates the risk of waterborne diseases, targeting women and children with cruel precision. This crisis, compounded by rampant malnutrition, manifests not just as a physical ailment but as a stark representation of food insecurity’s gendered impacts. Women, particularly those pregnant and nursing, face heightened vulnerability due to their specific nutritional needs, casting a long shadow on future generations through the specter of stunted growth among children.

The Voices of Resilience: Stories of Pregnant Women and New Mothers

The narrative of Faizah*, eight months pregnant and displaced, encapsulates the harrowing journey of many. Her ordeal from Tawila to El Fasher, undertaken on a mule, is a testament to the indomitable spirit of motherhood facing insurmountable odds. Yet, upon arrival, her struggles were magnified, devoid of food, shelter, and basic necessities for her newborn, illustrating the acute challenges of maternal care in crisis settings.

Relief International and UNICEF’s interventions, though laudable, highlight a stark reality: while critical, the efforts to provide healthcare, nutritional support, and mother-to-mother support groups are but a drop in the ocean of need. The establishment of Mothers’ Support Groups, where women unite in solidarity to share experiences and solutions, embodies the feminist principle of collective action and empowerment amidst adversity.

A Call to Feminist Action

As SIHRO, we amplify the call for a feminist response to the crisis in Sudan. This entails not just addressing the immediate healthcare, nutrition, and safety needs of pregnant women and new mothers but also challenging the underlying gendered inequalities that exacerbate their vulnerability.

We urge the global feminist movement, Sudanese feminist groups, and the international community to rally in support of targeted, gender-sensitive interventions. These interventions should aim to mitigate the current crisis and lay the groundwork for a healthcare system in Sudan that upholds the rights and dignity of all women and children.

Kashif Shafique’s words, echoing through the corridors of Relief International in Sudan, serve as a clarion call: the resilience of communities, especially women, amidst this crisis is palpable. Yet, the severe underfunding and escalating needs underscore the urgency for comprehensive, feminist-informed support.

Towards a Future of Feminist Solidarity and Action

In solidarity with pregnant women and new mothers in Sudan, SIHRO commits to advocating for a feminist agenda that prioritizes their health, nutrition, and overall well-being. We stand with those fighting on the ground, demanding more than mere survival for women and children—they deserve a future marked by safety, dignity, and equality.

The crisis in Sudan starkly reminds us of the essential intersection of feminist theory and human rights advocacy. By adopting a feminist lens, we can better understand and address the complexities of this crisis, ensuring that women’s rights are at the forefront of our collective response.

Sudan International Human Rights Organization (SIHRO)

Empowerment Through Rights. Solidarity Through Action.

*Name changed to protect privacy