Pregnant in a Crisis

When Nadia* talks about her pregnancy, her voice carries both hope and fear. Hope for the child growing inside her. Fear shaped by months of violence, displacement, and uncertainty.

“We were displaced during the conflict and recently returned to our home,” she says. “There were bombs, shelling and gunfire. Not being able to stay at home and having to live in an insecure environment put a lot of stress on me.”

Nadia is five months pregnant as we meet her. She is also a mother of seven children. One son and six daughters. In the midst of Sudan’s ongoing crisis, which the UN recently called the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, simply keeping her family safe has become a daily struggle. Accessing health care, especially maternal health services, feels almost impossible.

Pregnancy in Sudan’s crisis: fear, insecurity and unmet needs

For pregnant women in Khartoum today, pregnancy is not just a time of anticipation. It is a time of heightened risk. Fighting and insecurity have forced families to flee their homes, disrupted supply chains, and led to the collapse of the health system. Many health facilities have closed or are no longer fully functional. Others lack trained staff, essential equipment, or basic medicines.

“The availability of food is not that good anymore,” Nadia explains. “I am concerned for the security of my children. Services for pregnant women are not available. This is the first time I have found help and treatment, despite being five months pregnant.”

Regular antenatal care is critical to detect complications early, manage conditions such as high blood pressure or anaemia, and protect both mother and child. Without it, risks increase sharply. In conflict settings like Sudan, pregnant women face higher rates of maternal mortality, premature birth, low birth weight, and preventable complications during delivery.

Stress, malnutrition, and untreated medical conditions can have lifelong consequences for newborns. As Nadia herself says, “The health of pregnant women is important because the future health of their children depends on them.”

Displacement and the collapse of maternal health services

Nadia’s experience reflects the reality faced by thousands of women in Khartoum. Displacement has separated families from their usual health facilities. Insecurity makes travel dangerous. Costs for private services are far beyond the reach of families who have lost their income.

“The conflict has affected health services a lot,” Nadia says.

For many women, this means months of pregnancy without a single medical check-up. No blood pressure monitoring. No blood tests. No information about vaccinations or warning signs. No reassurance that their baby is developing safely.

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Finding care at a Medair-supported health facility

Nadia finally found help after hearing about a Medair-supported health facility from friends in her neighbourhood.

“They said there are good antenatal services here,” she recalls.

At the clinic, Nadia received something she had been missing throughout her pregnancy: professional maternal health care.

During her antenatal consultation, health staff checked her blood pressure, conducted laboratory tests, and assessed her overall health. These routine procedures can be life-saving in a crisis context. Early detection of high blood pressure, infections, or nutritional deficiencies can prevent serious complications later in pregnancy.

Nadia also received medication and counselling, as well as information about vaccinations and follow-up care.

“The services are good, and I am encouraged to come here for antenatal care,” she says. “It is good to have these services here.”

Medair’s maternal health response in Khartoum

With support from the European Union, Medair is providing essential primary and maternal health services in Khartoum to people affected by conflict, displacement, and poverty. This includes antenatal care, deliveries and referrals, postnatal follow-up, basic laboratory testing, provision of essential medicines, and health education for mothers.

In a context where public services are overstretched or inaccessible, these services are often the only option for pregnant women to receive care. Clinics supported by Medair help reduce risks during pregnancy, support safe deliveries through referrals, and protect the health of newborns during their most vulnerable first days of life.

For women like Nadia, this support is not just medical. It restores dignity. It reduces fear. It gives mothers the confidence that they are not facing pregnancy alone in the middle of a crisis.

Why support for maternal health matters

Maternal health is one of the most sensitive indicators of a health system under strain. When conflict disrupts care for pregnant women, the consequences are felt for generations. Babies born without proper antenatal care are more likely to face health challenges that can affect their entire lives.

EU humanitarian funding and generous private donors enable Medair to keep clinics operational, staff trained, and essential supplies available in one of the most challenging environments in the world. It ensures that women like Nadia can access care regardless of their ability to pay.

A safer path forward

Today, Nadia continues her pregnancy with renewed confidence. She knows where to go for follow-up care. She knows her health is being monitored. She knows her unborn child has a better chance.

In a country where insecurity has made even the simplest acts difficult, accessing antenatal care should not be a luxury. For Nadia, it has become a lifeline.

Her story is a reminder that even in the midst of conflict, investing in maternal health saves lives. With continued support from the European Union and private donors like you, Medair is helping ensure that mothers in Khartoum can protect their health and the future of their children, even in the hardest of times.

*Name has been changed for security reasons.

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.  

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