Premature babies and newborns in displacement camps in Tawila, North Darfur, are facing increasing health risks as respiratory infections spread and shortages of essential medicines place further pressure on overstretched medical facilities.
The neonatal unit at Tawila Hospital is struggling to cope with a growing number of infants requiring specialised treatment, particularly premature babies and those suffering from respiratory complications.
A medical source at the hospital told Darfur24 on Sunday that the unit was severely overcrowded, with many newborns suffering from respiratory infections and other serious conditions.
The source said a surge in acute infections among children had left some infants experiencing respiratory failure, while increasing numbers of premature babies were being admitted for emergency care.
Medical workers attributed the worsening situation to deteriorating health and humanitarian conditions in displacement camps, where overcrowding and inadequate sanitation have contributed to the spread of disease.
Hospital staff warned that congestion inside the neonatal unit was increasing the risk of infections spreading among vulnerable infants while placing additional pressure on doctors and healthcare workers.
Another medical source reported a rise in premature births among displaced families in Tawila, linking the increase to the physical and psychological hardships associated with Sudan’s ongoing conflict.
The source said many premature infants were dependent on mechanical ventilators because of severe respiratory complications, leaving them particularly vulnerable amid shortages of medical supplies and specialised care.
Tawila, which is under the control of the Sudan Liberation Movement, has become one of Sudan’s largest displacement centres.
The area currently shelters an estimated 665,000 displaced people, most of whom fled fighting in the North Darfur capital, El Fasher, according to the report.
The latest warnings follow earlier reports of worsening maternal and child health conditions across the region, including rising malnutrition and limited access to essential medical services.
In October, the World Health Organization warned that healthcare needs across Darfur far exceeded available resources.
The agency also cautioned that continued instability and climate-related shocks could drive further displacement, worsen malnutrition and accelerate the spread of infectious diseases.
The deteriorating conditions have raised concerns about the ability of already strained health facilities to provide lifesaving treatment to newborns and other vulnerable patients as Sudan’s humanitarian crisis continues.
