In the midst of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, expectant mothers face unimaginable challenges, with reports emerging of childbirth on debris-strewn floors, emergency cesarean sections without anesthesia, and tragic deaths due to the scarcity of medical supplies.
Within the war-torn hospitals of Gaza, the persistent cries of women and newborns in pain serve as a haunting backdrop. Despite the scarcity of functional medical facilities in the region, an estimated 180 babies are born every day amid the chaos of conflict.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has issued a stark warning, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the war on women, children, and newborns.
Urgent Maternal Health Concerns
In early November, UNICEF reported approximately 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, with 15% at risk of experiencing birth- or pregnancy-related complications. The dire situation is exacerbated by the limited availability of functioning hospitals, placing pregnant women in perilous conditions.
Yafa Abu Akar, a resident of Khan Younis in Gaza, revealed distressing incidents of women bleeding to death during childbirth at the barely operational Nasser hospital. Emergency cesarean sections, often performed without anesthesia, have led to severe complications, including the removal of wombs due to excessive bleeding.
The heartbreaking account includes a 25-year-old woman who, after undergoing an emergency cesarean, had to undergo a hysterectomy, robbing her of the ability to have more children. Tragically, some women have not survived such complications.
As the conflict intensifies, pregnant women find themselves navigating life amid the rubble, facing dire circumstances at every turn.
Medical Infrastructure Decimated
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in October that patients in Gaza were undergoing surgeries without anesthesia due to depleted medical supplies. Since then, the situation has deteriorated further, with the WHO expressing concern over the near-collapse of Gaza’s health system.
Reports from Khan Younis tell of a nine-month pregnant woman subjected to a stomach incision to deliver her baby, all without the relief of pain management. The dire conditions have resulted in a surge in premature births, with stressed and traumatized pregnant women facing numerous challenges, from seeking safety to enduring long walks and crowded, unsafe shelters.
Pregnancy Amidst a Humanitarian Crisis
Oxfam partner Juzoor operates in northern Gaza, supporting 500 pregnant women among the 35,000 crowded into 13 shelters with inadequate water and sanitation. Juzoor’s executive director, Umaiyeh Khammash, stated that giving birth safely in hospitals had become “impossible,” resulting in a significant increase in infant mortality rates.
The dire situation extends to malnourished women, facing increased risks during pregnancy and childbirth. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that 45,000 pregnant and 68,000 breastfeeding women in Gaza lack sufficient food, exposing them to heightened risks of complications.
Challenges to Prenatal Care
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) deputy director Natalie Thurtle described the extreme challenges faced by pregnant women in Gaza. Discharged from hospitals immediately after childbirth due to the lack of postnatal care, women are left without essential medical support. Everyday issues that would be manageable with proper healthcare are now missed due to the disrupted continuity of care.
The severity of children’s injuries in Gaza is particularly distressing, with healthcare workers struggling to provide adequate aid amid the conflict. Hospitals and ambulances, vital for maternal and child healthcare, are under siege, resulting in casualties among both patients and medical staff.
As the conflict continues, the situation for women in Gaza remains grim, with concerns ranging from basic hygiene needs to the mental health impact of constrained access to essential services. The war’s toll on Gaza’s female population is deeply dehumanizing, emphasizing the urgent need for a cessation of hostilities and the restoration of critical healthcare infrastructure.
