Three Miscarriages in Two Months at Ponnagyun Displacement Camps
Arakha Times (15-November-2024)
Ponnagyun Township, Rakhine State – Displacement camps in Ponnagyun Township are reporting miscarriages among pregnant women due to severe shortages of medical supplies.
According to the Ponnagyun Youth Organization, at least three miscarriages have occurred within the last one to two months among pregnant women in these camps.
A representative of the Ponnagyun Youth Organization stated that some miscarriages occurred around the fifth month of pregnancy due to limited access to medical care and essential drugs.
“There is a clear lack of medical supplies. Pregnant women have no access to necessary treatments, and this has led to several miscarriages in the past one or two months,” the representative told Arakha Times. “We’ve seen miscarriages even at the fifth month of pregnancy due to these shortages.”
Over 60,000 displaced people are sheltering in Ponnagyun, and it is estimated that hundreds of these women are pregnant, according to aid workers supporting the displaced.
One critical issue they face is a lack of timely vaccinations necessary for pregnant women as they progress through pregnancy. Besides, these women often lack access to adequate nutrition, dietary supplements, and prenatal vitamins, and many are forced to continue working for survival despite their pregnancy.
The representative from the Ponnagyun Youth Organization also highlighted the dire conditions: “Pregnant women here are struggling not only due to lack of medical care but also because they need to work to secure food for themselves. It’s hard to imagine, but they work even while pregnant, unable to get proper supplements like folic acid.”
In addition to nutritional deficiencies, there are cases where babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth due to malnutrition during pregnancy.
Furthermore, ongoing conflict disrupts essential healthcare services, and pregnant women face deadly risks from shelling and attacks in the area.
