WHO technical brief highlights surge in maternal deaths in conflict and fragile settings

23 February, 2026

From WHO

https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/a77c2591-0593-45dd-8e6e-...

Nearly two-thirds of all maternal deaths worldwide now occur in countries affected by conflict or fragility.

A new WHO technical brief offers analysis, insights and case studies from Colombia, Ethiopia, Haiti, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea and Ukraine, illustrating both the challenges and potential solutions for protecting maternal health in crisis settings.

Journalists can request early access to the technical brief or interviews with experts by writing to guerraja@who.int with a copy to mediainquiries@who.int

HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org

Author: 
Neil Pakenham-Walsh