Mogadishu, Somalia – Somalia is facing a worsening maternal health emergency, with an estimated 171,000 pregnant women struggling to reach even the most basic medical care at a time when humanitarian resources continue to shrink. The United Nations’ latest assessment paints a stark picture of a country where giving birth remains one of the most dangerous moments in a woman’s life.
Across urban neighborhoods and remote villages alike, expectant mothers are navigating a maze of challenges that often begin long before labour. Many live far from functioning clinics, while others confront the heavy cost of transportation or find facilities without staff, supplies, or electricity. In displacement camps, makeshift tents have become the only refuge for women whose pregnancies are unfolding under the weight of drought, conflict, and chronic poverty.
Health workers in Mogadishu and other major towns say they are seeing more complications that could have been prevented with routine checkups. The UN estimates that four in ten pregnant women are not receiving antenatal care, a gap that leaves thousands vulnerable to untreated infections, anaemia, obstructed labour, and life-threatening emergencies that go unnoticed until too late.
Communities are attempting to fill the void, relying on traditional birth attendants who offer comfort but lack essential equipment and training. Families often describe rushing women to faraway facilities on donkey carts or borrowed vehicles, hoping to reach help before complications spiral. Those who arrive safely are met by overstretched nurses working long hours in crowded maternity wards where essential medicines are rationed.
The crisis comes as international funding for Somalia’s health sector declines, amplifying the fragility of a system that depends overwhelmingly on donors. Clinics that once provided free services are now limiting operations, leaving the most vulnerable with nowhere to turn.
Despite these challenges, local organisations and volunteer midwives continue to push forward, setting up small outreach programs, teaching mothers basic warning signs, and escorting them to nearby facilities when possible. Their efforts, while inspiring, are far from enough to meet the scale of need.
Somalia’s maternal health crisis is not merely a statistic—it is a daily reality for thousands of women whose lives and futures hinge on the availability of care. Without renewed investment and urgent action, the risks they face will only grow, with consequences felt across families and generations.