Gaza Pregnant Women Face Uncertain Birth Amidst Ongoing Conflict
On 6 October, Noor Hammad, a nutritionist, went to work at a clinic in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. Her excitement for the upcoming birth of her first child in January was replaced with anxiety when her house was destroyed in airstrikes just days after fleeing. Hammad is now living with 25 family...
On 6 October, Noor Hammad, a nutritionist, went to work at a clinic in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza. Her excitement for the upcoming birth of her first child in January was replaced with anxiety when her house was destroyed in airstrikes just days after fleeing. Hammad is now living with 25 family members in a two-bedroom home, unsure where and how she will give birth.Public health agencies including the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and the World Health Organization have expressed concern about the dire situation in Gaza. With a large number of medical facilities destroyed or no longer functioning, approximately 180 women a day give birth without adequate care. Some women have resorted to giving birth in shelters or in overwhelmed healthcare facilities, leading to increased risk of infection and complications.
