DaysofPal- The United Nations has sounded the alarm over the plight of tens of thousands of pregnant women in Gaza, warning that they face catastrophic conditions amid the collapse of the health system, widespread malnutrition, and relentless Israeli bombardment as Israeli genocide continues.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in New York that an estimated 55,000 women are pregnant in Gaza, many of them struggling to access even the most basic maternal health services.
“Pregnancy and childbirth in Gaza are happening in terrible, traumatic conditions,” he said, stressing that Israeli evacuation orders issued do not absolve Israeli forces of their responsibility to protect civilians.
According to humanitarian agencies, roughly half of the pregnancies are considered high-risk, while about 20 percent of the women are malnourished, raising fears of rising maternal deaths, miscarriages, and premature births.
Many women are being forced to deliver at home, in overcrowded shelters, or in makeshift facilities without sterile equipment or trained staff.
The breakdown of Gaza’s health system has made the situation even more dire, as dozens of hospitals and clinics have been damaged or destroyed by Israeli bombing, and several primary health centers have suspended operations due to fuel shortages and repeated strikes.
Even functioning facilities are overwhelmed and unable to cope with the surge in patients due to the ongoing Israeli killing and bombing.
UNFPA and WHO have reported severe shortages of essential medicines, prenatal supplements, and equipment needed for safe deliveries.
Neonatal care is also at risk, with incubators and life-saving machines frequently shut down due to power cuts.
Dujarric noted that many families are unable to flee their places because of prohibitive transport costs, security risks, or health concerns.
“Women who are days away from giving birth are being displaced multiple times, enduring constant fear, hunger, and trauma,” he said.
Aid agencies warn that unless safe humanitarian corridors are opened, thousands of women and newborns will remain at imminent risk.
The warning came as Israeli occupation forces intensified their bombing of Gaza City, forcing thousands of families to move south amid heavy bombardment.
Humanitarian groups insist that the Israeli evacuation orders, combined with the lack of safe passage, are leaving the most vulnerable, including pregnant women, children, and the elderly, trapped in life-threatening conditions.
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