'I gave birth in the street' Conflict makes childbirth risky in parts of Africa

BIRAO, Central African Republic — The agony began for Maude Ahmad Fadala shortly after sunset. Her baby was coming. She was in a refugee camp, weakened by typhoid. There were no camp facilities for what was about to happen, and she had no money to travel. She struggled to her feet and started walking. She stopped every few minutes, gripped by pain from contractions, then could go no farther. “I gave birth in the street," she said. "There was no doctor, no midwife, and no one holding