Laila Baker: I can’t find the words to describe what I saw. In both the maternity hospital and the safe space for women and girls, there were inspiring people. They didn’t care much about their own circumstances of displacement and stress. They simply continued to provide services to women and girls in need.
We met doctors working around the clock. I met a wonderful midwife who was tirelessly going out into the field, making sure that antenatal care was provided and following up with poor women, bringing them to the same hospital. It was inspiring and I think it reflects the beautiful nature of the Sudanese people. The conditions we saw in the maternity hospital were equally appalling. We saw babies crammed into incubators and heaters. There were two or three babies in one heater because of the shortage of these.
It is very difficult for medical professionals to deal with this number of patients and provide care. The people themselves suffer from lack of supplies and lack of hygiene. Despite all the efforts made, the hospital is overcrowded. It is providing services four times its capacity due to the number of displaced people.
I have been working in this field for nearly three decades and have seen many shelters and displaced people in that time. But I have never seen a situation like this, where overcrowding, desperation, lack of food, clean water and hygiene products combine for many women, and the extreme fear and trauma of loss and damage they have suffered either due to conflict, flooding or both. Many have also experienced sexual violence due to their displacement.
