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A Yemeni woman, Mona travelled hour hours on camel to deliver of a baby.

 

When Mona began experiencing contractions, she found herself relying on a camel to help her during the difficult journey.

 

Mona, a 19-year-old, had to travel approximately 40km (25 miles) from her home located on rocky mountains to reach Bani Saad hospital in north-west Yemen's Mahweet province, the only functioning healthcare facility for numerous women in the region.

 

 Initially, she expected the journey to take four hours, but due to the absence of roads, bad weather, and her labor pains, it took seven hours instead.

 

Mona expressed the emotional and physical strain she endured with each step the camel took, tearing her apart. Eventually, the camel could go no further, and Mona had to continue the rest of the way on foot with her husband.

 

Access to the hospital requires traversing treacherous mountains either on camels or by foot.

 

Mona feared for her safety and that of her unborn child as she clung to the camel during the rocky journey. The roads to the hospital from nearby villages are narrow and often damaged or blocked due to the ongoing war in Yemen.

 

Women, family members, or partners frequently assist pregnant women for hours on hilly terrains to reach the hospital.

 

Salma Abdu, who accompanied an expectant mother, shared the tragic account of encountering a pregnant woman who died during her journey at night. Salma emphasizes the urgent need for essential infrastructure like roads, hospitals, and pharmacies in the area, as they are stranded and vulnerable.

 

In Yemen, many families struggle to afford the cost of transportation to the hospital, even if they can afford the medical services. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Yemen reports that one woman dies every two hours from preventable causes during childbirth.

 

Yemen's healthcare system was already fragile before the war, but the conflict has further devastated hospitals and infrastructure, making travel extremely challenging for families. Hospitals lack adequate staff, equipment, and medicines, while investment in roads and infrastructure has been halted. Only a small fraction of functioning facilities can provide reliable maternal and child health services.

 

Mona's story is just one example of the hardships faced by expectant mothers in Yemen. Car ownership is beyond the means of most Yemeni citizens, with the majority relying on aid for survival.