Nearly 60,000 pregnant women in Gaza are facing malnutrition and lack of proper health care, with some giving birth in unsafe conditions due to the ongoing bombardment and displacement in the region. The Gaza health ministry reported that 5,000 women give birth every month under harsh circumstances, while 9,000 women, including mothers and pregnant women, have been killed since October. The United Nations and aid agencies have warned of an impending famine in Gaza, where at least 25 people, mostly children, have died from malnutrition and dehydration.
Dr. Deborah Harrington, an obstetrician in Gaza, highlighted the lack of pre- and postnatal care for expectant and new mothers, putting their lives and their babies at risk. The Global Nutrition Cluster reported that over 90% of children under 2 and pregnant and breastfeeding women faced severe food poverty in Gaza.
The article includes personal stories of pregnant women like Wafaa al-Kurd and Aya Saada, who struggle to find nutritious food and clean water, leading to weight loss and health issues during their pregnancies. Some women have even resorted to giving birth in unsafe conditions, without proper medical assistance.
The dire situation in Gaza is exacerbated by the lack of access to nutritious food and medical care, which puts both mothers and their babies at risk. The international community and aid agencies are working to address the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and provide assistance to vulnerable pregnant women and their families.
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