The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) have warned that the escalation of hostilities in the occupied Palestinian territory has disproportionately affected women, children, and newborns. They have been impacted both as casualties and in terms of reduced access to health services.
Laila Baker, Regional Director for the Arab States at the sexual and reproductive health agency, said she fears for the fate of new mothers and their children amid the “loss of complete humanity” in Gaza
Staff from UNFPA have been providing emergency health and safe delivery kits to mothers-to-be “when we can reach them”, she said.
She told UN News that pregnant Palestinian women fleeing bombardment are riddled with anxiety, but also hope and happiness, as they struggle to find qualified health professionals who can support them with a safe delivery.
“Put yourself in the shoes of that woman when the surgeon says to her ‘I have no anaesthesia, I don’t even have water or soap to wash my hands, but I’m going to try and save your life,’” she said.
Ms. Baker spoke from Cairo about the urgent need for a humanitarian ceasefire and stronger international response in Gaza.
‘’Over 135 health facilities have been targeted. The remaining health facilities that stay standing have very little medication, no fuel to run electricity. We’ve had caesarean sections for emergency deliveries that have been done with little or no anaesthesia and on occasion only with the light from a mobile phone,’’ She said.
She went on saying that it’s critically important that the protection of all humanitarian staff – and the sanctity of life in general – is protected, before adding that there’s no such thing as a humanitarian pause. A pause implies that you can come in, bring your things, but then we’re going to bombard and then we’re going to commit and continue to put that pressure on the people of Gaza. That cannot continue. It must stop immediately.
Over half of the population of Gaza is now sheltering in UNRWA facilities in dire conditions, with inadequate water and food supplies, which is causing hunger and malnutrition, dehydration and the spread of waterborne diseases. According to initial assessments by UNRWA, 4600 displaced pregnant women and about 380 newborns living in these facilities require medical attention. Already more than 22 500 cases of acute respiratory infections have been reported along with 12 000 cases of diarrhoea, which are particularly concerning given the high rates of malnutrition.
